Adopted at the 119th Annual Conference

San Diego, CA
October 3, 2012

Supporting Class Scheduling of Synthetic Drugs
Submitted by: Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Committee
NDD.018.a12

WHEREAS, there has been a recent and frightening trend of synthetic drug use in our communities; and

WHEREAS, synthetic drug substitutes, made from chemical compounds that are sold legally in most States, mimic the hallucinogenic and stimulant properties of drugs like marijuana, cocaine, LSD, and methamphetamines; and

WHEREAS, although these synthetic drugs are just as dangerous as their traditional counterparts, they may be too new to be identified as illegal; and

WHEREAS, these products are marketed as innocent products like bath salts, plant food, and incense and are sold under brand names familiar to their users such as K2, Vanilla Sky, or Ivory Wave; and

WHEREAS, the use of synthetic marijuana (often known as "K2" or "Spice") is alarmingly high; according to the 2011 Monitoring the Future Survey, 11.4 percent of 12th graders used Spice or K2 in the past year, making it the second most commonly used illicit drug among high school seniors; and

WHEREAS, poison control centers received 2,906 calls relating to human exposure to synthetic marijuana in 2010; twice that number (6,959) were received in 2011, and 639 had been received as of January 2012; and

WHEREAS, the effects of synthetic marijuana include agitation, extreme nervousness, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia (fast racing heartbeat), elevated blood pressure, tremors, seizures, hallucinations, and dilated pupils; and

WHEREAS, the number of calls related to bath salt exposure received by poison control centers across the country increased by more than 20 times in 2011 alone; up from 304 in 2010 to 6,138; and WHEREAS, bath salt use is associated with adverse effects similar to that of cocaine, LSD, and methamphetamines including increased heart rate and blood pressure, extreme paranoia, hallucinations, and violent behavior, which causes users to harm themselves or others; and

WHEREAS, people under the influence of bath salts have committed horrific acts across the country; for example, in January 2011 in Panama City, Florida, a daughter tried to attack her sleeping mother with a machete; in June 2011 in Spanaway Washington, a 38-year-old Army Sergeant murdered his wife who was also under the influence of bath salts and then killed himself and their 5-year-old son; and in July 2011 in Bangor, Maine, a man was found standing on a street corner with an assault-style rifle and ammunition, after ingesting bath salts and imagining people crawling out of his mattress and coming to kill him; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement has difficulty combating these dangerous and potentially deadly substances because producers can easily skirt the law by modifying different chemical variations to circumvent legal prohibitions; and

WHEREAS, the passage of the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012 as part of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, which was signed into law on July 9, 2012, addresses the growing use and misuse of synthetic drugs by placing a number of harmful substances on schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act and would give DEA enhanced authority to temporarily schedule new variations of synthetic drugs from 1 ½ to 3 years; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) duly assembled at its 119th Annual Conference in San Diego, California, recognizes the alarming rate of synthetic drug use and its devastating effects and applauds the passage of the Synthetic Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2012.

WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies have been confronting growing problems concerning clandestine chemical laboratories, mainly used for the illegal production of methamphetamine; and

WHEREAS, there has been a large increase in the number of these laboratories, as evidenced in the State of California where the number of clandestine laboratories seized has increased from 554 in 1994 to 1,405 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, what was once considered a problem only for western states has now spread to America’s heartland and beyond with over 5,365 laboratories discovered in 1998, including 679 in Missouri and 445 in Arkansas; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement officers who encounter these volatile and explosive laboratory sites, either as a first responder or as an officer assigned to dismantle and clear the laboratory, must have comprehensive training and safety equipment to protect their lives and health; and

WHEREAS, Section 1910.10 of the Code of Federal Regulations requires law enforcement personnel responding to clandestine laboratory sites where toxic chemicals are present to pass a minimum 24-hour safety training course consistent with OSHA standards, as well as an annual 8-hour recertification course; and

WHEREAS, the highly specialized training necessary to handle these clandestine laboratory situations and comply with federal regulations is for the most part provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) at their training facility at Quantico, Virginia, and special regional training sites on an ad hoc basis, with a supplemental training resource available through the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement in that state; and

WHEREAS, the DEA has steadily increased the training provided to state and local agencies over the last five years and will train over 1,000 officers through the Basic Clandestine Laboratory Certification Course this year as well as initiate “train the trainer” instructional programs to be implemented in local training programs throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, an integral part of Basic Clandestine Laboratory Certification training is providing sufficient safety equipment to each attendee that can then be used in conjunction with their training when they return to their local communities and respond to these volatile lab situations; and

WHEREAS, the necessary safety equipment for each officer, which costs approximately $2,500 and is a heavy financial burden that has been recognized by the federal government and DEA, is provided to each attendee at said DEA training course; and

WHEREAS, the increasing number of clandestine laboratory situations and the expansion of the problem to all areas of the country is indicative of a growing need for such training to protect the health and safety of law enforcement officers; and,

WHEREAS, law enforcement and local government agencies must oversee the dismantling of the laboratories and the removal of these dangerous chemicals in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency and federal and state regulations; and

WHEREAS, the cost of cleaning up and removing these chemicals in compliance with law and environmental regulations is extremely expensive and not an expenditure provided for in state and local law enforcement budgets; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 106th Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, strongly urges Congress to continue to provide regular funding to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to ensure that said training can be provided to law enforcement officers throughout the country, both in basic safety awareness classes for first responders as well as Basic and Advanced Clandestine Laboratory Certification courses, and that the resource assistance provided by the DEA to state and local enforcement personnel receiving this training include proper and sufficient safety equipment to do their job safely; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Congress provide funding sources through programs such as COPS, Byrne Grants, Bureau of Justice Administration, ONDCP, its HIDTA groups, and others so that state and local agencies can apply for funding to conduct said training in their jurisdictions which comply with the requirements of Section 1910.120 to keep up with this increasing demand; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP strongly urges Congress to establish a permanent funding structure that will provide adequate financial resources on a national basis to continue the safe and environmentally sound disposition of clandestine chemical laboratories.

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police meeting at its 104th Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, passed a resolution urging all governments and governing bodies to vigorously protect the health and safety of their citizens through an adherence to established medical and scientific criteria as the sole basis for determining when a dangerous drug has a bona fide medical purpose; and WHEREAS, the reason the International Association of Chiefs of Police continues to oppose ballot initiatives which would allow physicians under certain conditions to recommend or prescribe Schedule I drugs for patients is the fact that not one national health organization accepts marijuana or other Schedule I drugs as a medicine, and many researchers adamantly state that marijuana or other Schedule I drugs have no medical benefit whatsoever; and WHEREAS, it is neither rational nor compassionate to provide a harmful, addictive drug with no scientifically proven medical efficacy; and WHEREAS, the National Institute of Medicine, in a recently completed study of the medical benefits of marijuana, has reaffirmed that the effects of cannabinoids on the symptoms studied are generally modest and smoking marijuana results in the delivery of harmful substances, including most of those toxic substances found in tobacco smoke; and WHEREAS, this study also affirmed that there are more effective medical delivery systems than smoking marijuana; and WHEREAS, this study reaffirms our belief that modern medicine does not advocate the smoking of toxic substances and the inhaling of their smoke; and WHEREAS, we continue to believe that the best process to determine the medical efficacy of any substance is through an established medical and scientific testing and evaluation system that has served our citizens well and resulted in the highest quality medical services in the world; now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 106th Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, reaffirms its opposition to any attempts to replace the established medical and scientific criteria for determining when a dangerous drug has a bona fide medical purpose.

WHEREAS, the citizens of the United States of America are victims of illicit drug trafficking and use and violent crime; and

WHEREAS, the only purpose of drug trafficking is for the drug traffickers to make a profit and to amass wealth for their personal use and to continue their illegal activities, often through ruthless and violent means, at the expense of the American public; and

WHEREAS, drug traffickers have acquired billions of dollars, mansions, luxury vehicles, artwork, jewelry, and other expensive personal assets as fruits of their criminal activities; and

WHEREAS, no one should profit from their crimes and from the suffering of innocent people; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. citizens have mandated that law enforcement officials disrupt and stop drug trafficking organizations from manufacturing and distributing illegal drugs and spreading violence in their communities; and

WHEREAS, law enforcement officials have found the forfeiture of drug traffickers’ assets to be an extremely effective weapon to deprive drug trafficking organizations of the means used to commit their crimes and the profit from their illegal activities; and

WHEREAS, the forfeiture of drug traffickers' assets effectively dismantles and incapacitates drug Mafia organizations; and

WHEREAS, recognizing the significant responsibility that accompanies asset seizure and forfeiture authority, law enforcement officials must continue to strictly follow a code of ethics which safeguards the rights of property owners, and law enforcement managers must remain vigilant in their supervision of forfeiture training, programs and activities; and

WHEREAS, forfeited property and money are used to help victims of crime and communities and to enhance the ability of law enforcement agencies to protect the public form drug trafficking and other crimes; and

WHEREAS, legislative proposals have been introduced that would make it more difficult for federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to successfully seize and forfeit the profits of drug trafficking so that they can be used to benefit the honest public; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 106th Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, strongly opposes any attempt to limit the asset forfeiture authority that has proven to be so helpful in the war against drugs and violent crime; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that given the international nature of drug trafficking, the IACP encourages all nations to preserve the effectiveness of their anti-drug efforts by opposing efforts to limit their respective asset forfeiture statutes.

FURTHER RESOLVED, that in those nations which do not have asset forfeiture statutes, the IACP encourages the government to consider authorizing the use of this valuable anti-crime capability.

WHEREAS, methamphetamine abuse continues to be a major problem resulting in over 17,200 hospital admissions in 1997, up from 4,900 admissions in 1991; and

WHEREAS, a direct result of the growing popularity of methamphetamine as a drug of abuse has been the phenomenal increase in the number of clandestine laboratories encountered by law enforcement, over 5,360 nationwide in 1998, with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) encounters increasing from 218 in 1993 to 1,604 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, these clandestine laboratories, because of their volatile and explosive nature, represent a serious threat to the safety of law enforcement personnel who encounter them in the course of their duties and others who are in the immediate vicinity during their operation; and

WHEREAS, these clandestine laboratories, as a result of the toxic chemicals utilized to produce methamphetamine, are a serious environmental threat to the communities where they are located; and

WHEREAS, over 90% of law enforcement agencies' actions are historically commenced and prosecuted by state or local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors; and

WHEREAS, the serious threat of methamphetamine production and abuse represents a danger to all communities and the citizens whom law enforcement officers are sworn to protect; and

WHEREAS, there currently exists a lack of comprehensive and uniform laws at the state level to address the growing phenomena of illicit clandestine laboratories, particularly concerning controls on precursor chemicals, pharmaceutical products and tools and instruments used in the production process of these illicit laboratories; and

WHEREAS, the lack of uniformity includes strong laws that provide law enforcement agencies the ability to interdict the utilization of these precursors and laboratory instruments and arrest those who intend to utilize them for the illegal production of drugs when there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have such an intent; and

WHEREAS, the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws is currently working with legislative authorities at the state level to develop model drug laws that address these issues; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 106th Annual Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, strongly encourages and supports the creation and adoption of such model state drug laws to provide law enforcement personnel with the legal authority to arrest and prosecute those found in possession of such chemicals or laboratory equipment with the intent to manufacture illegal drugs, particularly methamphetamine; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that all such laws should include firm and fixed penalties that are commensurate with the public threat these hazardous laboratories and their illicit products represent to the citizens of this country; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that all such legislation include strong financial penalties for those involved in the creation and operation of these illegal laboratories, to include the cost of all expenditures necessary to clean up these laboratory sites.

WHEREAS, under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and its implementing regulations, a Schedule I controlled substance cannot be imported into the United States unless the importing company is appropriately registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and has a permit to import such substance, nor can such product be cultivated, manufactured, distributed or sold within the United States without appropriate authorization; and

WHEREAS, federal drug law enforcement has become aware that many imported cannabis products (commonly referred to as “hemp”), including sterilized seed and oil manufactured from cannabis seed, may be contaminated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, which is a Schedule I hallucinogenic controlled substance, and any product containing any amount of THC is considered to be a Schedule I controlled substance; and

WHEREAS, many imported cannabis products, including sterilized seed and oil manufactured from cannabis seed, are being used in food products and dietary supplements intended for human consumption and are increasing in popularity; and

WHEREAS, information and complaints have been received that individuals testing positive for marijuana use have raised their consumption of food products and dietary supplements manufactured from cannabis seed or oil as a defense to the positive drug tests; thus cannabis-based products undermine the integrity of the drug-testing program for the military and private industry; and

WHEREAS, the dietary and health food industries oppose the regulation of hemp-oil capsules, believing they have cholesterol-lowering properties, as Schedule I controlled substances. They ignore the public health in their claims and argue that trace amounts of THC in any of these products could not produce a psychoactive effect, which underscores the need to emphasize the affect on the credibility of work place drug testing; and

WHEREAS, the availability and potential production of cannabis products in the United States poses a great burden to law enforcement in terms of safety, identification, testing, eradication and destruction, and the economic and industrial viability of cannabis products is undetermined; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 107th Annual Conference in San Diego, California, recognizes that it is important to maintain the illegal status of marijuana; that the availability of cannabis products poses many difficulties for law enforcement; and failure to act will leave the way unimpeded for the proponents of the legalization of marijuana; and that any products made from the sterilized seed or fiber of the cannabis plant are contaminated with THC, a Schedule I controlled substance; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP strongly urges U.S. federal, state and local lawmakers, the National League of Cities, and the National Governors’ Association to uniformly support that any cannabis (“hemp”) product, intended for human consumption, should also be considered a Schedule I controlled substance and, as such, the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of such product should be prohibited in accordance with the CSA regulations.

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) recognizes drug trafficking as a global problem where jurisdictional divisions remain unacknowledged by criminals, and that there is a need for law enforcement to create an environment where drug traffickers have no safe havens; and

WHEREAS, the value of analyzed information, known as intelligence, is in the act of sharing rather than mere possession; therefore, it is essential for intelligence to be shared among law enforcement entities in a seamless continuum; and

WHEREAS, it is well-accepted that cooperation provides for better information sharing and a more efficient use of resources in the critical process of attacking drug organizations; and various law enforcement sharing centers (i.e., El Paso Intelligence Center, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, National Drug Intelligence Center, and the Regional Information Sharing System) and information sharing programs support improving coordination and eliminating unnecessary duplication as part of their individual missions; and

WHEREAS, drug intelligence may be shared more efficiently through greater use of technology and information sharing programs; and the interoperability allowed through greater access to national centers and databases must include the basic tenets of broad, time-sensitive access with secure links and multi-agency drug intelligence training programs to ensure the most effective use of the information gained; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 107th Annual Conference in San Diego, California, recognizes the General Counterdrug Intelligence Plan (GCIP), as providing a framework for a U.S. national interoperability and intelligence sharing process and the Counterdrug Intelligence Executive Secretariat and Counterdrug Intelligence Coordinating Group, designated to implement the plan, and the IACP stands firmly behind this multi-agency effort; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that recognizing the need to plan for the future, the members of the IACP will collaborate with one another to unite in vision and strategy; to examine resource requirements for information sharing initiatives; and, where possible, to provide assistance in obtaining said resources; and be strongly exhorted to participate in a wide variety of multi-agency information sharing initiatives which will contribute to the overall ability of law enforcement to predict trends, initiate countermeasures, and achieve drug law enforcement goals.

WHEREAS, “Raves” are a form of dance and recreation that are held in locations with fast-paced high-tech entertainment, and often, the use of drugs; and typically night clubs, bars, parties and raves attract teenagers, college students, and young adults who may risk their health in the interest of a good time; and substances such as MDMA, Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine and LSD, being collectively referred to as “Club Drugs,” have gained popularity with young people in recent years at these club scenes; and

WHEREAS, MDMA (Ecstasy) is a Schedule I synthetic, psychoactive drug possessing stimulant and hallucinogenic properties, and users are at risk of experiencing severe dehydration or exhaustion, nausea, hallucinations, chills, sweating, increased body temperature, tremors, involuntary teeth clenching, muscle cramping, blurred vision, and permanent brain damage that may manifest itself in depression, anxiety, memory loss, and other neuropsychotic disorders; and MDMA overdoses can be fatal; and MDMA use has increased by over 500 percent in the past five years and the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) estimates reveal that nationwide hospital emergency room mentions for MDMA rose dramatically from 68 in 1993 to 1,142 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a central nervous system depressant abused for its ability to produce euphoric and hallucinatory states and its alleged ability to release a growth hormone and stimulate muscle growth, can produce drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, unconsciousness, seizures, severe respiratory depression, and coma; and GHB, in liquid or white powdered form, is taken orally and is frequently combined with alcohol; and abusers include high school and college students and rave party attendees who use GHB for its intoxicating effects; and several cases have documented the use of GHB to incapacitate women for the commission of sexual assault; and in 1990, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory declaring GHB unsafe and illicit except under FDA-approved, physician-supervised protocols, and in March 2000, GHB was placed in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act; and DAWN estimates reveal that nationwide hospital emergency room mentions for GHB rose dramatically from 55 in 1994 to 1,282 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Ketamine Hydrochloride, a general anesthetic for human and veterinary use, produces effects similar to PCP with the visual effects of LSD and can affect the senses, judgment, and coordination for 18 to 24 hours; and Ketamine sold on the streets comes from diverted legitimate supplies and is snorted, placed in alcoholic beverages, or smoked in combination with marijuana; and the incidents of abuse are increasing and appear in reports of rave parties attended by teenagers; and Ketamine was placed in Schedule III of the Controlled Substance Act in August 1999; and DAWN estimates reveal that nationwide hospital emergency room mentions for Ketamine rose dramatically from 19 in 1994 to 209 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Flunitrazepam, which is marketed under the brand name Rohypnol and commonly known as “roofies”, belongs to the benzodiazepine class of drugs and has never been approved for medical use in the United States; however, it is legally prescribed in over 50 other countries and is widely available in Mexico, Colombia, and Europe for the treatment of insomnia and as a pre-anesthetic. Therefore, it was placed into Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act in 1984 due to international treaty obligations and remains under that classification. Flunitrazepam causes partial amnesia, drowsiness, dizziness, loss of motor control, lack of coordination, slurred speech, confusion and gastrointestinal disturbances and can result in physical dependence; and it has become widely known for its use as a date-rape drug and is abused by high school and college students, street gang members, rave party attendees, and heroin and cocaine abusers; and DAWN estimates reveal that nationwide hospital emergency room mentions for Flunitrazepam rose dramatically from 13 in 1994 to 623 in 1998; and

WHEREAS, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) is the most potent hallucinogen known to man and physical reactions to LSD may include dilated pupils, lowered body temperature, nausea, "goose bumps," profuse perspiration, increased blood sugar, and rapid heart rate, visual distortions, extreme mood changes, impaired perception of depth, time, movements, color, sound, touch and the user's own body image; and, under the influence of LSD, the ability to make sensible judgments and perceive common dangers is impaired, making the user susceptible to personal injury and a threat to others if attempting to drive a car or operate machinery. The effects of higher doses last for 10 to 12 hours and the user may suffer acute anxiety or depression for a variable period and may experience "flashbacks” which are recurrences of the effects of LSD, days or even months after taking the last dose; and

WHEREAS, off-duty uniformed law enforcement officers are being hired by rave and club drug promoters as a purported security measure, and the presence of these officers lends a perception of legitimacy to these establishments; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 107th Annual Conference in San Diego, California, calls on all governments to be aware of the permeation of abuse of MDMA and “Club Drugs” into the social culture of predominantly young people and to take aggressive countermeasures to combat this trend in their respective areas of jurisdiction through effective investigative methods and legislative applications; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the IACP calls upon all government and community leaders to bring the issues associated with abuse of MDMA and “Club Drugs” to a high priority level by educating the public on the health risks; by supporting increased legislative penalties; by facilitating law enforcement training; and by prohibiting the posting of law enforcement sentries at known “Rave Clubs”, thereby portraying a false sense of legitimacy and security.

WHEREAS, an April 1998 report by the U.S. Department of Justice (Bureau of Justice Statistics) reveals that 82% of all jail inmates admitted a prior use of drugs and 36% acknowledged being on drugs at the time of their offense; and WHEREAS, the 1998 National Institute of Justice Arrestees Drug Use Monitoring (ADAM) Program Report reveals that in all 23 metropolitan areas surveyed, between one-half and three-quarters of the people charged with crimes had drugs in their system at the time of their arrest; and

WHEREAS, the aforesaid ADAM Report reveals that in many U.S. cities including Atlanta, Portland, Denver, St. Louis, San Diego and Ft. Lauderdale, over 70% of the male arrestees test positive for an illegal drug at the time of their arrest, with figures as high as 78% in New York City and 80% in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, the aforesaid ADAM Report also reveals the high percentage of positive tests for marijuana at the time of arrest for male arrestees in many cities such as Cleveland 46%, Omaha 49%, Washington, D.C. 39%, and Dallas 43%; and

WHEREAS, a 1997 FBI study concerning violent attacks against law enforcement officers found that 24% of the assailants were under the influence of drugs at the time they attacked the officer and 72% of the assailants had a history of drug law violation; and

WHEREAS, the 1997 National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) report “Behind Bars Substance Abuse and America’s Prison Population” indicates that among state and federal inmates, drug users account for 41% of the first-time offenders, 63% of inmates with two prior convictions, and 81% of inmates with five or more prior convictions; and

WHEREAS, from 1960 to 1980, drug incarceration rates fell by 79%; violent crime increased by 270% and teen drug use doubled more than 500%; and WHEREAS, from 1980 to 1995, when drug incarceration rates rose 447%, the violent crime rate slowed from +13% to +1% and high school drug use declined by a third; and

WHEREAS, commencing in 1992 the violent crime rate has been reduced steadily every year following a 50% reduction in drug use by Americans and strong law enforcement actions directed at violent criminals and drug traffickers, as exemplified by New York City, which has substantially reduced the rate of violent crime for six consecutive years, including a 70% reduction in homicides; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), duly assembled at its 105th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, strongly advocates the recognition of the connection between the use of illegal drugs and criminal conduct and calls for effective law enforcement action against drug traffickers and violators and those engaged in criminal conduct as part of any balanced program to address the issue of drug abuse.

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes the importance of providing a strong and clear message to the youth of the world concerning the dangers of drug abuse; and WHEREAS, according to the SAMSHA Household Survey, although drug use by Americans age 12 and older was dramatically reduced between 1985 and 1992, such use has been steadily increasing each year since 1992; and WHEREAS, the 1997 National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) report on drug use revealed that the number of 12 year olds knowing a friend or classmate who uses LSD, cocaine or heroin has more than doubled since 1996 (11% to 24%); and

WHEREAS, the 1997 CASA report also disclosed that the number of 9 to 12 year olds trying marijuana doubled from 1995 to 1996; and

WHEREAS, the 1997 CASA report disclosed that between 1992 and 1996 the proportion of 8th graders who said they used marijuana during or before the 7th grade rose from 7.7% to 12.7% and the average age of first-time marijuana use has steadily declined from 24.2 in 1963 to 16.3 in 1994; and

WHEREAS, the 1997 University of Michigan Monitoring the Future Study reveals a continuing long-term rise in the use of marijuana by 10th and 12th graders as well as disturbing increases in the use of cocaine and other dangerous drugs; and

WHEREAS, a 1998 survey by Harvard University, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Maryland disclosed that drugs and drug abuse was rated as the number one problem facing American youth by 56% of those surveyed, far outranking other concerns; and

WHEREAS, the August 1997 National Institute of Justice Drug Use Forecasting Report disclosed that over 50% of all juveniles arrested tested positive for an illicit drug at the time of their arrest; and WHEREAS, by the year 2005, there will be more teenagers in the United States than at any time in history, especially those approaching the prime crime years of 18-22; and WHEREAS, the most recent Monitoring the Future Study clearly demonstrates an historical pattern that when children begin to associate drugs with risk, they disapprove of drug use and drug use decreases; and

WHEREAS, between 1992 and 1997, as the volume of anti-drug messages and public service announcements began to decrease, we witnessed a corresponding increase in drug use by our youth; and

WHEREAS, the Partnership for a Drug Free America has launched an ambitious national media campaign aimed at educating the American population about the dangers of drugs, and the ultimate effectiveness of the campaign is dependent upon the activities of communities and institutions to reinforce the messages delivered throughout the campaign; and

WHEREAS, continuing increases in drug use by our citizens will eventually result in destruction and damage to further generations of youth and babies yet to be born; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police, duly assembled at its 105th annual conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, strongly endorses the efforts to present clear and unequivocal messages to the youth of society warning of the dangers of illegal drugs; and be it further

FURTHER RESOLVED, that all law enforcement agencies are encouraged to actively participate in delivering support to school and civic programs designed to teach young people the dangers of drug use as a recognized goal in producing drug free communities.

WHEREAS, heroin abuse is rising while international narcotics trafficking organizations are exporting increasing amounts of heroin to world markets; and

WHEREAS, indicators used to determine the drug abuse situation in the United States reveal that the estimated number of heroin-related emergency room episodes in the United States have more than doubled between 1990 and 1995, rising from just under 34,000 to more than 76,000 during this period; and as the number of episodes increased, so have reported heroin-related deaths which increased from 1,976 in 1990 to 4,625 in 1995; and

WHEREAS, heroin abuse is rising sharply, especially among children and young people and accounting for much of this rise is purer heroin, which allows for new forms of usage. The average national retail-level purity of heroin is approximately nine times what it was in 1980, having risen from 3.6% to 36.3% in 1996, and in some areas such as metropolitan New York City, heroin purity has risen in many instances to the 90 to 95% level; and today’s purer heroin can be inhaled and smoked, which has ushered in a new, younger generation of users; and

WHEREAS, heroin production continues to rise; potential world production of heroin has increased 60 percent in the last eight years to nearly 360 tons; and this is further exacerbated by an increase in South American heroin, which is of extremely high purity and is being aggressively marketed by undercutting the selling price of competition and using established cocaine markets to promote heroin; and

WHEREAS, the media influences the decisions of children and young people, and heroin use has become popularized in the media, entertainment, and advertising; and

WHEREAS, a greater cooperative effort is needed to attack international narcotics trafficking organizations throughout the world, and law enforcement needs to combine its resources with that of education and prevention experts to reduce the impact that heroin has on society; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), duly assembled at its 104th annual conference in Orlando, Florida, calls for the law enforcement community to devote sufficient resources and for all countries to devote assets and assistance to dismantling heroin trafficking organizations and arresting their leaders; and that law enforcement work in cooperation with demand reduction and the prevention community to reduce the harmful impact that heroin has on our respective societies; and, therefore, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police urges the media, entertainment and advertisement industries to recognize their impact on young people and to do all within their capacity to accurately portray the misery and destruction of heroin abuse.

WHEREAS, flunitrazepam, a potent sedative/hypnotic drug most commonly known under the trade name of “Rohypnol,” is abused in many countries by such groups as teenagers, young adults, nightclub and party attendees, and individuals abusing alcohol, heroin or cocaine; and

WHEREAS, flunitrazepam has been used to produce mental and physical incapacitation and, thus facilitate such criminal acts as sexual assault and robbery; and

WHEREAS, the abuse of flunitrazepam presents a significant health risk to abusers, including teenagers and young adults, as well as to potential assault victims and the surrounding community; such risks include the possibility of death when used in combination with other depressants; and

WHEREAS, flunitrazepam is diverted from numerous domestic sources in many countries and is frequently smuggled across international borders; and

WHEREAS, flunitrazepam, as a result of extensive international abuse and trafficking and at the recommendation of the World Health Organization, was separated from the other benzodiazepines and moved from Schedule IV to Schedule III of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances in 1995; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), duly assembled at its 104th annual conference in Orlando, Florida, urges that national governments examine the need for more stringent controls of flunitrazepam under national law; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police urges that health and law enforcement agencies in each country develop educational programs regarding the hazards from flunitrazepam abuse.