2016 -- H 8234

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LC006015

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

DECLARING MAY 19, 2016, TO BE "RECOVERY ADVOCACY DAY" IN RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Fellela, Hearn, Marcello, and Costantino

     Date Introduced: May 19, 2016

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Addiction is a disease that many people suffer from on a daily basis.

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Currently, 23 million people in the United States and 65,000 Rhode Islanders from all walks of

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life are living in recovery from substance abuse disorder. In Rhode Island, 92,000 people are

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battling substance use disorder and 257 people have tragically lost their lives due to opioid

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overdose in 2015; and

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     WHEREAS, According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

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Administration (SAMHSA), recovery is defined as being "a process of change through which

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individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full

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potential. Recovery is built on access to evidence-based clinical treatment and recovery support

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services for all populations"; and

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     WHEREAS, The recovery process differs from person to person and can occur through

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the use of many different strategies. It can include the use of clinical treatment, the support of

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friends, peers and faith-based communities, and through medication. The Substance Abuse and

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Mental Health Administration believes that the recovery process often includes both growth and

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setbacks, and given that setbacks are a regular occurrence in everyone's life, resilience is a crucial

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part of recovery. Resilience, according to SAMHSA, "develops over timeā€¦.and refers to an

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individual's ability to cope with adversity and adapt to challenges or change"; and

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     WHEREAS, Another critical aspect of the recovery process is the role played by Peer

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Recovery Specialists (PRS). Peer Recovery Specialists help their peers pinpoint their goals for

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recovery, assist them in their treatment, and develop effective coping strategies, and assist them

 

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in advocating for themselves in order to gain access to needed services; and

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     WHEREAS, While addiction is a disease many Rhode Islanders struggle with, let us

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never lose sight of the fact that recovery is possible. Every day, thanks to the support of loved

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ones, friends, peers, faith-based communities, and qualified professionals, people recover from

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addiction and go on to lead quality lives with their families and friends in the workplace, and

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within their communities; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the state of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby declares May 19, 2016, to be "Recovery Advocacy Day" in Rhode

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Island; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to send

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a duly certified copy of this resolution to Maria Montanaro, MSW, Director, Rhode Island

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Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals.

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LC006015

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