National Poison Prevention Week, 2019

Proclamation 9850 of March 15, 2019

National Poison Prevention Week, 2019

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During National Poison Prevention Week, we raise
awareness about the reality of unintentional poisoning
in America, and we recommit to educating all Americans
about how best to prevent tragedy from striking our
loved ones and our communities. More than 90 percent of
accidental poisonings occur in the home, and children
are particularly vulnerable. Each year, an average of
85,000 children visit emergency rooms across our Nation
to receive care after exposure to poison. We all share
a responsibility to keep harmful items, including
dangerous medications, cosmetics, household cleaning
supplies, laundry detergent, pesticides, and batteries,
out of sight and out of the reach of children. ``Take
Back Day'' events, which encourage Americans to dispose
of potentially harmful medications, among other
substances, are also great opportunities for Americans
to participate in the broader effort to reduce the
number of accidental poisonings in our country.

Tragically, our Nation's opioid epidemic has only added
to the number of unintentional poisoning deaths. To
address this growing crisis, I announced my Initiative
to Stop Opioid Abuse, which is aimed at reducing the
demand for drugs through education, awareness, and
preventing over-prescription. My Administration has
also worked with the Congress to secure more than $6
billion in funding to help combat the drug abuse and
opioid epidemic through prevention, treatment and
recovery services, interdiction, and law enforcement
efforts. Additionally, I signed into law the SUPPORT
Act, the largest legislative effort in history to
address a single drug crisis. This legislation enhances
patient access to non-opioid treatment options,
increases access to drug disposal, and provides support
for those caring for babies prenatally exposed to
drugs.

Data from the Monitoring the Future study and the
National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that
the misuse of opioid medications among youth has
declined in recent years. These encouraging findings
are a sign that real progress is being made to educate
our young people on the dangers of prescription drug
misuse. Much work remains to be done, however, to
address the misuse of prescription opioids and the use
of illegal drugs in our communities. All Americans,
both young and old, should familiarize themselves with
safe practices for prescription drug use and should
apply these important practices to their daily
routines.

This week, and always, I implore all Americans to
remain vigilant in protecting themselves and their
families from unintended exposure to poisons, and to
take the steps necessary to reduce the availability of
potentially harmful substances. By making prevention a
priority, we can help avoid the devastating
consequences often caused by unintentional poisonings
and drug overdoses.

To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers
of unintentional poisonings and to take appropriate
preventative measures, on September 26, 1961, the
Congress, by joint resolution (75 Stat. 681),
authorized and requested the President to issue a
proclamation designating the third week of March each
year as ``National Poison Prevention Week.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 17,
2019, through March 23, 2019, to be National Poison
Prevention Week. I call upon all Americans to observe
this week by taking actions to safeguard their families
from poisonous products, chemicals, medicines, and
drugs found in their homes, and to raise awareness
about these dangers in order to prevent accidental
injuries and deaths.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
fifteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two
thousand nineteen, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
third.