SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 54

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION STUDY COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE CORRELATION BETWEEN SECONDARY SCHOOL DROPOUT RATES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE DURING THE INTERIM AND RECOMMEND CORRECTIVE REMEDIES AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE TO THE SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico loses approximately thirty-three percent of students entering ninth grade prior to graduating from high school, which approximates sixty-seven students per school day from all of the state's school districts; and

     WHEREAS, national data reveal that approximately twenty-seven percent of New Mexico students experiment with alcohol prior to age thirteen, compared to the national average of twenty percent; and

     WHEREAS, approximately forty percent of students experiment with or use marijuana between grades nine and twelve, according to a national poll; and

     WHEREAS, approximately eleven percent of students in grades nine through twelve experiment with or use inhalants, according to a national poll; and

     WHEREAS, approximately five percent of New Mexico students in grades nine through twelve experiment with or use cocaine; and

     WHEREAS, approximately eight percent of New Mexico students in grades nine through twelve experiment with or use prescription pain medication; and

     WHEREAS, five percent of New Mexico students needed treatment for alcohol abuse and six percent for illicit drug abuse but did not receive treatment; and

     WHEREAS, preparation of the future work force of the state is a primary and fundamental building block of economic development; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has numerous post-secondary programs available for the development of professional and career needs through universities, community colleges, vocational training institutions and private training programs; and

     WHEREAS, the percentage of graduating secondary school students may be substantially increased by reducing the dropout rate by providing long-term alternatives to student experimentation with or abuse of drugs;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the legislative education study committee address, during the interim, the correlation between school dropout rates and substance abuse by students in grades nine through twelve; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the legislative education study committee recommend legislative remedies that could be implemented in school districts that request such assistance to help decrease rates of substance abuse and school dropout; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that legislation for viable remedies be drafted for consideration by the second session of the fifty-first session of the legislature; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the chair and to the director of the legislative education study committee.

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