| R 248 |
| 2016 -- S 3004 Enacted 05/19/2016 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| DECLARING MAY 17, 2016, TO BE "RECOVERY ADVOCACY DAY" IN RHODE ISLAND |
| Introduced By: Senators Miller, Paiva Weed, Walaska, Pearson, and DaPonte |
| Date Introduced: May 19, 2016 |
| WHEREAS, Addiction is a disease that many people suffer from on a daily basis. |
| Currently, 23 million people in the United States and 65,000 Rhode Islanders from all walks of |
| life are living in recovery from substance abuse disorder. In Rhode Island, 92,000 people are |
| battling substance use disorder and 257 people have tragically lost their lives due to opioid |
| overdose in 2015; and |
| WHEREAS, According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services |
| Administration (SAMHSA), recovery is defined as being "a process of change through which |
| individuals improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full |
| potential. Recovery is built on access to evidence-based clinical treatment and recovery support |
| services for all populations"; and |
| WHEREAS, The recovery process differs from person to person and can occur through |
| the use of many different strategies. It can include the use of clinical treatment, the support of |
| friends, peers and faith-based communities, and through medication. The Substance Abuse and |
| Mental Health Administration believes that the recovery process often includes both growth and |
| setbacks, and given that setbacks are a regular occurrence in everyone's life, resilience is a crucial |
| part of recovery. Resilience, according to SAMHSA, "develops over time….and refers to an |
| individual's ability to cope with adversity and adapt to challenges or change"; and |
| WHEREAS, Another critical aspect of the recovery process is the role played by Peer |
| Recovery Specialists (PRS). Peer Recovery Specialists help their peers pinpoint their goals for |
| recovery, assist them in their treatment, and develop effective coping strategies, and assist them |
| in advocating for themselves in order to gain access to needed services; and |
| WHEREAS, While addiction is a disease many Rhode Islanders struggle with, let us |
| never lose sight of the fact that recovery is possible. Every day, thanks to the support of loved |
| ones, friends, peers, faith-based communities, and qualified professionals, people recover from |
| addiction and go on to lead quality lives with their families and friends in the workplace, and |
| within their communities; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
| hereby declares May 17, 2016, to be "Recovery Advocacy Day" in Rhode Island; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to send |
| a duly certified copy of this resolution to Maria Montanaro, MSW, Director, Rhode Island |
| Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. |
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| LC005996 |
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