| R 291 |
| 2022 -- H 8224 Enacted 05/10/2022 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| DESIGNATING MAY 10, 2022, AS "FENTANYL AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Felix, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Filippi, Alzate, Casey, Giraldo, Potter, Barros, and Tanzi |
| Date Introduced: May 10, 2022 |
| WHEREAS, In the State of Rhode Island, three out of every four overdose deaths has |
| involved fentanyl, a highly potent opioid that poses a great threat to society and has worsened our |
| overdose crisis; and |
| WHEREAS, According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, since 2009, the |
| number of overdose deaths related to fentanyl has increased in Rhode Island by almost 30-fold; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, There is a dramatic rise in the rates of counterfeit pills, opioids, cocaine, and |
| other substances containing fentanyl in Rhode Island; and |
| WHEREAS, Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any other |
| cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and all other accidents; and |
| WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island has made history in passing health-related |
| legislation aimed at supporting individuals and communities dealing with substance use, |
| including legalizing fentanyl test strips to enable individuals to test their substances for fentanyl, |
| establishing a pilot program to create harm reduction centers to prevent drug overdose deaths; |
| and, decriminalizing buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorders; now, |
| therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proudly joins partners local and nationwide, in recognizing the first-annual "National Fentanyl |
| Awareness Day" on May 10, 2022, and implementing a day of action to raise public awareness |
| about the urgent problem of people dying at alarming rates due to fentanyl; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this House hereby supports the recognition and goals of National |
| Fentanyl Awareness Day, which includes increasing individual and public awareness of fentanyl, |
| including the impact of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl on families and young people; and be |
| it further |
| RESOLVED, That this House enthusiastically supports the work of the Rhode Island |
| Department of Health and other organizations in their efforts to support individuals and their |
| families impacted by substance use disorders; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this House encourages additional laws, regulations, and programs that |
| increase education and support individuals, their families, and communities impacted by |
| substance abuse disorders; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of |
| Health. |
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| LC005945 |
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