PRINTER'S NO. 2344
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
449
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY DAVIS, NEILSON, DEAN, DiGIROLAMO, THOMAS,
HENNESSEY, SAINATO, FRANKEL, SCHLEGEL CULVER, KINSEY,
PASHINSKI, MURT, PHILLIPS-HILL, LONGIETTI, TOOHIL, ROZZI,
MILLARD, SCHWEYER, WARREN, KIRKLAND, WATSON, McNEILL,
DONATUCCI, DRISCOLL, GILLEN, CALTAGIRONE AND MARSICO,
AUGUST 30, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
AUGUST 30, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing August 31, 2017, as "International Overdose
Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, "International Overdose Awareness Day" began in 2001
and has since been recognized by advocates, community
organizations, health care providers and government agencies
across the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia; and
WHEREAS, Participants of this global event aim to commemorate
individuals who have lost their lives to a drug overdose, raise
awareness that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable and
reduce the stigma of drug-related death; and
WHEREAS, The United Nations Office on Drug and Crime reports
that globally there are approximately 190,000 premature drug-
related deaths each year, the majority of which are attributable
to the use of opioids; and
WHEREAS, The United States accounts for approximately one-
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quarter of the estimated number of drug-related deaths
worldwide, including overdose deaths, which continue to rise;
and
WHEREAS, Overdose deaths in the United States, which are
mostly driven by opioids, more than tripled during the period of
1999 through 2015, from 16,849 to 52,404 annually; and
WHEREAS, According to preliminary data compiled by the New
York Times, drug overdose deaths in 2016 most likely exceeded
59,000, marking it the largest annual increase ever recorded in
the United States; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is in the midst of an
unprecedented epidemic of drug abuse and drug-related overdose
deaths, impacting every corner of the State and all of its
residents; and
WHEREAS, In 2016, 4,642 drug-related overdose deaths were
reported by Pennsylvania coroners and medical examiners, an
increase of 37% from 2015; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 13 people died of a drug-related
overdose each day in 2016 in this Commonwealth, with thousands
more affected by addiction either personally or through family,
friends and loved ones; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize August
31, 2017, as "International Overdose Awareness Day" in
Pennsylvania by joining in the global effort to support current
and former drug users along with family members who have lost
their loved ones to a drug overdose and encouraging discussion
about overdose prevention and drug policy.
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