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Pennsylvania State Senate
09/15/2024 04:00 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20150&chamber=S&cosponId=20844
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: October 11, 2016 04:28 PM
From: Senator Donald C. White
To: All Senate members
Subject: Drugs Kill Dreams, Opioid Alert Day in Pennsylvania
 
I plan to introduce a resolution to designate February 12, 2017 as "Drugs Kill Dreams, Opioid Alert Day" in Pennsylvania.

The “Drugs Kill Dreams” (DKD) program was established in 1994 by Armstrong County District Judge, J. Gary DeComo, whose mission is to increase drug and alcohol prevention awareness in schools and communities throughout Western Pennsylvania. The program is based on the strong belief that if we increase prevention we will decrease addiction and crimes committed by individuals with an addiction. The program’s name was created by a local area student (than a fourth grader) who used the slogan “Drugs Kill Dreams (DKD)” in an anti-drug poster contest. DKD is one of a number of programs throughout the state that partner with schools, churches and other community organizations to share education materials and prevention messages to young people.

According to research published in the American Journal of Public Health, a proactive approach works to reduce substance abuse among young adults if they are part of a community-based prevention effort while still in middle school. The study shows significant reduction rates for methamphetamine, prescription drug misuse, marijuana, alcohol, and cigarette and inhalant use.

With opioid abuse reaching epidemic proportions, I believe we need to take a proactive approach with the goal of stopping drug and alcohol addition and abuse before it begins. The DKD program can help to raise the level of prevention awareness regarding opioids and encourage full participation in the education, prevention, treatment, recovery and law enforcement throughout the year.

Please join me in getting the message of prevention regarding opioids out to young people across the Commonwealth by designating a special day this year as “Drugs Kill Dreams, Opioid Alert Day."

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Anne Achenbach, of my staff, at 7-4404 or aachenbach@pasen.gov.



Introduced as SR449


Memo Updated: October 11, 2016 04:29 PM