Reps. Newell, Ball, Schuitmaker, LaJoy, Gosselin, Farhat, Baxter, Moore, Stahl, Nitz, David Law, Proos, Vander Veen, Caswell, Mortimer, Taub, Sheen, Marleau, Casperson, Accavitti, Bieda, Booher, Brandenburg, Brown, Byrum, Caul, Clack, Condino, Cushingberry, Espinoza, Gillard, Gleason, Green, Hansen, Hopgood, Jones, Kathleen Law, Leland, Lemmons, Jr., McDowell, Meyer, Miller, Pastor, Pearce, Rocca, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Stakoe, Stewart, Wojno and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 210.

            A resolution to encourage the Michigan Department of Education and school districts to educate teachers and administrators on the dangers of methamphetamine.

            Whereas, Methamphetamine is a highly addictive central nervous system stimulant. It is the most widely used and illegally produced synthetic drug in the United States. So-called "meth labs" utilizing inexpensive and easily acquired legal ingredients can be quickly set up virtually anywhere.  Urban and rural communities are struggling to cope with the health, crime, societal, and even environmental impacts of methamphetamine production and addiction; and

            Whereas, Although the Michigan State Legislature has strengthened our laws to combat this deadly drug, stopping and arresting the dealers and producers must be part of a broader effort to prevent our people from succumbing to this highly addictive drug. Our schools must have a role to play in educating our young people about the dangers of methamphetamine in order to keep them from starting down this dark road to addiction and crime; and

            Whereas, School districts are encouraged to teach students about the dangerous and damaging health risks associated with the production of methamphetamine and the hazardous environment created when producing methamphetamine. The Michigan Department of Education should develop a model instructional program that may be used by school districts in relaying this information to their students. The model program should include the health risks of using, abusing, and producing methamphetamine, the immediate addictive quality of methamphetamine, and other extreme and dangerous consequences that result from exposure to methamphetamine and its production; and

Whereas, As part of a multi-layered approach that includes law enforcement efforts and prevention, we must recognize that some of our young people will become victimized by either using the drug or by being exposed to methamphetamine production. We must be able to help these children early before the damage is too deeply and permanently felt. The Michigan Department of Education should instruct teachers annually on identifying children who have been exposed to methamphetamine production or who are using the drug themselves; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we encourage the Michigan Department of Education and school districts to educate teachers and administrators on the dangers of methamphetamine; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Department of Education.