House Resolution 93

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE STUDENTS OF PARKLANE ACADEMY FOR THEIR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY BY EDUCATING THE PUBLIC OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISPOSAL AND PROVIDING THE MEANS OF PROPER DISPOSAL BY IMPLEMENTING THE P2D2 PROGRAM.

WHEREAS, Tyler Cutrer, Bella Hutson, Madison Martin, Jennifer Mary, Ryan Phillips, Marisa Siebert, Anne Tullos, Blass Watson and Alaina Williams, students at Parklane Academy in McComb, Mississippi, last year became aware of the need for educating people in their community and throughout the state about the proper disposal of prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, these Parklane students learned about the growing abuse of prescription drugs among our youth, where one in five teens have abused prescription medication, and that misuse of prescriptions now causes more than three-fourths of the overall problem of prescription drug abuse, painkillers now cause more drug overdose deaths than cocaine and heroin combined, and our Mississippi waterways are now showing traces of common medications and prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, under the astute guidance of McComb pharmacist Tara Hennington and the program sponsor, Coach Randy Martin, these students began to set the wheels in motion to help rid the streets of the McComb area of unwanted prescription drugs by instituting the P2D2 Program in McComb this past summer; and

WHEREAS, Tara advocated her concern for proper prescription drug disposal to the membership of the Mississippi Pharmacists Association, bringing this imperative issue to the forefront of all pharmacists in the Magnolia State, and also conveyed her concern to the Legislature with a proposal for legislative action to address the problem; and

WHEREAS, the P2D2 Program allows Mississippi students to work with drug task forces across Mississippi to collect unwanted prescription drugs and educate the community on the harm done to the environment by not properly disposing of prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, the Parklane students have participated in multiple drug take back days in Pike County through the P2D2 Program, where they have already collected over 250 pounds of prescription medications to be disposed of by environmentally friendly means; and

WHEREAS, demonstrating their dedication and educational prowess, the Parklane students presented the details of the P2D2 Program to the Mayor and Board of Selectmen of McComb and actively and successfully advocated for the passage of House Bill No. 423 in the Legislature, in order to take their McComb success to the entire state; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend outstanding individuals, such as these students of Parklane Academy, whose meritorious community service and dedication to their fellow citizens and the environment translates into an impassioned zeal for transforming, enriching and positively affecting future generations of Mississippi citizens:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize and commend the students of Parklane Academy for their service to the community by educating the public of the importance of proper prescription drug disposal and providing the means of proper disposal by implementing the P2D2 Program, and extend best wishes for continued success of the P2D2 Program in the entire State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to The Clarion-Ledger, the Enterprise Journal, the McComb Police Department, the Mississippi Pharmacists Association, the P2D2 Program, the students of Parklane Academy and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.