PRINTER'S NO. 2431
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
487
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY ISAACSON, PYLE, DiGIROLAMO, HOHENSTEIN,
BENNINGHOFF, BURNS, CALTAGIRONE, T. DAVIS, DEASY, DeLUCA,
EVERETT, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GOODMAN, HARKINS, HARRIS, HEFFLEY,
HILL-EVANS, HOWARD, KAUFER, KORTZ, KOSIEROWSKI, LONGIETTI,
MALAGARI, McCLINTON, McNEILL, MERSKI, MILLARD, MURT, NEILSON,
O'MARA, PASHINSKI, POLINCHOCK, RAVENSTAHL, RIGBY, SAINATO,
SANCHEZ, SCHLOSSBERG, SCHWEYER, SNYDER, STAATS, STRUZZI,
ULLMAN, VITALI, WARREN, WEBSTER, WILLIAMS, YOUNGBLOOD AND
ZABEL, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of September 16 through 22, 2019, as
"Prescription Opioid/Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The heroin and opioid epidemic continues to be a
major, if not the most serious, public health challenge in this
Commonwealth and nationally; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1990s, prescription opioids became a
popular course of treatment for chronic and acute pain; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, the volume of prescriptions for opioid
painkillers peaked, making the United States the highest opioid
prescribing country in the world; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, an increase of 286% in opioid/heroin-
related deaths was reported; and
WHEREAS, Recent data indicates that approximately 80% of new
heroin users began their drug use with prescription opioids,
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