Rep. Dean offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 299.

            A resolution to urge universities and K-12 schools to warn children and young adults about the dangers of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, to encourage physicians and pharmacists to alert parents to the inherent dangers of these drugs, and to encourage parents to keep these medications out of their children's reach.

            Whereas, Household medicine cabinets pose a danger to the health and safety of children and young adults. Medicine cabinets may contain pain relievers, anti-depressants, anti-hypertensives, and myriad other medications that can harm children. Medications prescribed for parents or others in a household may appear safe and benign to some young children. Children often mistakenly think that medicine cabinets contain only "safe" medications that "mom" gives them when they are sick; and

            Whereas, Recently, a teenage boy, Spencer Berndt of Rockford, Michigan, died from an allergic reaction after he took some of his mother's pain medications to ease the pain of an injury. Tragically, Spencer was unaware that prescription medications are only safe for the person they are prescribed for and their improper use by others can have serious consequences; and

            Whereas, Some teens may experiment with prescription drugs. It is becoming increasingly common for teenagers to abuse pain medications, over-the-counter (OTC) medications, and other drugs found in a parent's medicine cabinet. According to the University of Michigan Monitoring the Future Survey, 3 percent of 8th-graders, 7 percent of 10th-graders, and about 10 percent of 12th-graders abused prescription drugs in 2006. There have been reports of teen deaths and overdoses from prescription medications; and

            Whereas, Abuse of drugs can have a very damaging effect on the still developing brains of children and young adults. Prescription and OTC medications that are abused or used for nonmedical reasons can alter brain activity and lead to dependence; and 

            Whereas, We need to get the word out to children and teens that prescription medications, OTC medications, and other common items in household medicine cabinets are potentially dangerous and should not be used improperly or without their parents supervision; and 

            Whereas, Parents need to be informed of the potential danger to their children of the common medications lurking inside their medicine cabinets and to check their medicine cabinets and discard any prescription drugs that are no longer required to treat a medical condition so that these medications are not available to be misused or accidentally ingested; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge universities and K-12 schools to warn children and young adults about the dangers of prescription drugs, we encourage physicians and pharmacists to alert parents to the inherent dangers of these drugs, and we encourage parents to keep these medications out of their children's reach; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be made available to all K-12 schools, colleges, universities, educational institutions, physicians offices, and healthcare facilities in the state of Michigan.