RESOLUTION NO. 030095

Declaring Tuesday, January 28, 2003, as Operation X-Out day in Kansas City.

WHEREAS, the proliferation of the so called Club Drugs, such as ecstasy and the other types of predatory drugs, has reached epidemic proportion across the country; and

WHEREAS, the number of emergency room visits resulting from the use of these drugs rose from 637 in 1997 to 5,542 in 2001 nationally; and

WHEREAS, according to a teen survey conducted by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, ecstasy use is cutting across all socioeconomic boundaries in the Kansas City area. Usage rates are at 4.4% for eighth-graders, 7.5% for sophomores and 9.6% for seniors; and

WHEREAS, a national survey by the Partnership for a Drug Free America found that 12% of children between the ages of 12 and 18 have used ecstasy; and

WHEREAS, use of these drugs not only propagate date rape, but high school and college students are dying as a result of the many misconceptions associated with the origins, forms, symptoms and hazardous effects of these drugs; and

WHEREAS, the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States Department of Justice is conducting these meetings in only five cities across the country and Kansas City was chosen as one of the five; and

WHEREAS, we, as conscientious members of our community, owe it to ourselves as well as our youth to educate ourselves as to how to identify these drugs, the symptoms associated with their use, the paraphernalia involved, what to do for a suspected victim and how and to whom to report persons trafficking in them; and

WHEREAS, that all interested parties be encouraged to attend the Town Hall meeting, presented by the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States Department of Justice, at 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, January 28, 2003. The meeting will be held in the Council Chamber on the 26th Floor of City, 414 East 12 Street, Kansas City, Missouri; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby declare Tuesday, January 28, 2003, as Operation X-Out day in Kansas City; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to D. Michael Harrington, Special Agent, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, with the appreciation of the Mayor, Council and citizens of Kansas City for the efforts being made to protect the youth of this community.

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