PRINTER'S NO. 1217
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
229
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY STREET, KILLION, MUTH, BARTOLOTTA, FONTANA,
DINNIMAN, ARGALL, AUMENT, FARNESE, K. WARD, BROWNE, BLAKE,
HUGHES AND J. WARD, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Designating September 25, 2019, as "Someone You Know Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Opioid addiction has reached epidemic proportions
across the country; and
WHEREAS, With the nation's third highest death rate due to
drug overdose, Pennsylvania is a microcosm for the opioid crisis
affecting families nationally; and
WHEREAS, Stigma is recognized as a barrier to people seeking
help and treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD); and
WHEREAS, Experts agree that sharing positive stories of
people who have been affected by OUD is an effective strategy to
address social stigma; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing the need to address this epidemic, the
Independence Blue Cross Foundation (Foundation) launched
"Someone You Know" to share diverse stories of hope for those
who have found a life in recovery, supported a loved one with
opioid addiction or sadly lost a loved one to an overdose; and
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WHEREAS, "Someone You Know" began as a regional public health
awareness campaign involving nearly a dozen participants and a
national conference that convened more than 600 leaders in
health, government and communities, including the United States
Surgeon General; and
WHEREAS, In one year, the diversity and number of "Someone
You Know" participants increased to 20 ambassadors who have
shared their stories at three major events in 2019, engaging
Federal and state legislators at day-long exhibitions in
Washington, DC, Harrisburg and Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Each event featured an interactive mobile display
for guests to listen to the stories of hope told by campaign
participants; and
WHEREAS, The mobile exhibit was created to expand the reach
of initial advertising and will travel to community events,
colleges and corporate campuses; and
WHEREAS, "Someone You Know" has gained national attention for
addressing the stigma of OUD; and
WHEREAS, Through regional advertising, social media promotion
and the mobile exhibit, "Someone You Know" generated more than
40 million viewer impressions and more than 85,000 views of
videos to date; and
WHEREAS, On September 25, 2019, the "Someone You Know" mobile
exhibit is traveling to the State Capitol to raise awareness
about the Foundation's grassroots public health campaign that is
breaking the stigma of opioid addiction, inspiring hope and
empowering others to seek help and treatment; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate September 25, 2019, as
"Someone You Know Day" in Pennsylvania.
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