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PRINTER'S NO. 986
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
149
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY KANE, BARTOLOTTA, TARTAGLIONE, BROWNE, KEARNEY,
HUGHES, FONTANA, SAVAL, COMITTA, PITTMAN, SANTARSIERO,
YUDICHAK, SCHWANK, COSTA, STREET, COLLETT, MENSCH, MASTRIANO
AND J. WARD, JULY 7, 2021
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JULY 7, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of July 26 through 30, 2021, as
"Construction Opioids Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Opioids are deadly and are responsible for claiming
approximately 450,000 American lives between 1999 and 2017; and
WHEREAS, In 2018 alone, there were 67,367 deaths involving
opioids; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted daily life
and harmed those with substance-use disorder, leading to a 38%
increase in opioid deaths; and
WHEREAS, While Pennsylvanians are still recovering from 2020
and the COVID-19 pandemic is still sweeping across our country,
now is not the time to forget about the opioid epidemic; and
WHEREAS, The Governor has declared the epidemic of heroin and
opioid addiction to be a Statewide disaster emergency; and
WHEREAS, The construction industry, which involves physically
demanding labor and employs an aging workforce, has been
particularly vulnerable to the opioid epidemic; and
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WHEREAS, Drug abuse issues in the construction industry
endanger not only the individual worker but the companies they
work for, other workers on the jobsite and the general public
near jobsites; and
WHEREAS, The summer months are the busiest months for the
construction industry and are an ideal time for promoting
awareness of the dangers of opioid abuse in the industry; and
WHEREAS, The Keystone Contractors Association has partnered
with the National Safety Council to create an educational
toolbox for members of the construction industry, including
materials to facilitate discussions with workers about the
dangers of opioids and prescription drug abuse, and "Warn Me"
stickers to place on workers' insurance cards in the hopes of
encouraging health care providers to discuss opioid issues with
those workers; and
WHEREAS, The following groups plan to promote the awareness
and dangers of opioids and prescription drug abuse within the
construction industry during the last full week in July:
Keystone Contractors Association, National Safety Council,
National Utility Contractors Association - Pennsylvania Chapter,
Pennsylvania Building & Construction Trades Council, Eastern
Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Laborers
International Union of North America - Pennsylvania Council,
Sheet Metal Contractors & Air Conditioning Contractors National
Association - Pennsylvania Chapter, Master Builders' Association
of Western Pennsylvania, National Electrical Contractors
Association of Western Pennsylvania, Mechanical Contractors
Association of America - Pennsylvania Chapter, Pennsylvania
Builders Exchange, Architectural Glass & Metal Association,
Ironworker Employers Association of Western Pennsylvania,
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American Subcontractors Association of Central Pennsylvania and
the General Building Contractors Association; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of July 26
through 30, 2021, as "Construction Opioids Awareness Week" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the construction industry in Pennsylvania be
encouraged to promote awareness of the dangers of opioids and
prescription drug abuse with workers in the industry and
facilitate discussions and events such as "Drug Take Back"
events to combat the opioid and prescription drug abuse epidemic
in Pennsylvania's construction industry.
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