Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 2.djvu/1004

 99 STAT. 2114

PROCLAMATION 5405—NOV. 8, 1985

drug abuse among our young and have brought about new laws and public pohcies. Young people everywhere are moving away from drug-taking behavior and embracing positive goals such as excellence in education, physical fitness, and personal integrity. Parents have banded together, and young people are receiving strong support for behavior that is anti-drug, pro-achievement, and that recognizes individual responsibility. These efforts are creating an environment that nurtures our Nation's greatest asset—our children. But while much has been done, we cannot let up on our efforts against illicit drugs and those who would profit from the havoc they wreak. We must continue to work together to address drug and alcohol problems in our homes and families. We must carry these concerns into our schools, churches, workplaces, and community life. By heightening awareness, we can gather the moral strength to do what is right and channel it into effective measures against this menace. Ante, p. 581.

To encourage widespread participation in efforts directed at preventing drug abuse, the Congress, by House Joint Resolution 126, has designated the week of November 3 through November 9, 1985, as "National Drug Abuse Education Week" and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this occasion. NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the week of November 3 through November 9, 1985, as National Drug Abuse Education Week. I call upon all Americans to join me in observing this week with personal dedication and a public commitment to protect the future of our Nation by eliminating drug abuse. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of November, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and tenth. RONALD REAGAN Proclamation 5405 of November 8, 1985

National Alzheimer's Disease Month, 1985 By the President of the United States of America .,, . • A Proclamation For more than two million Americans with Alzheimer's disease, each day is fraught with fear and frustration. Fear of getting lost in one's own neighborhood; of not recognizing members of one's immediate family; of not being able to perform simple, familiar chores. For the victims of this disease, tying shoes or setting a table can be overwhelming tasks. As our elderly population grows, more and more people will be affected by this malady. Alzheimer's disease is the major cause of the confusion, erratic behavior, and forgetfulness once believed to be a "normal" part of old age. This "senility" is actually the result of the destruction of certain brain cells. As the afflicted person loses the ability to function intellectually, the family faces growing emotional, physical, and financial burdens. Eventually, many victims require specialized professional care. Fifty percent of all nursing home residents in America suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other serious, irreversible forms of dementia.

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