| R 109 |
| 2025 -- S 0369 Enacted 02/25/2025 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| RECOGNIZING SEPTEMBER AS SUBSTANCE USE RECOVERY AWARENESS MONTH IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND CALLING FOR THE END OF STIGMA AND EMPOWERING RECOVERY THROUGH LANGUAGE IN RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Senators Acosta, Ujifusa, Felag, Rogers, Paolino, LaMountain, Urso, Appollonio, Lawson, and Bell |
| Date Introduced: February 25, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a public health issue that affect |
| thousands of Rhode Islanders and their families each year; and |
| WHEREAS, Stigma and discrimination remain significant barriers to individuals seeking |
| and accessing treatment and recovery support, often leading to negative health outcomes and |
| societal exclusion; and |
| WHEREAS, Language plays a powerful role in shaping public perceptions, attitudes, and |
| beliefs about individuals with SUDs, with evidence showing that person-first, non-stigmatizing |
| language fosters dignity, compassion, and understanding; and |
| WHEREAS, The American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, and |
| other leading health organizations advocate for replacing stigmatizing terms such as "addict," |
| "abuser," and "clean" with person-first language such as "person with a substance use disorder" |
| and "in recovery"; and |
| WHEREAS, Communities, health professionals, and policymakers must work |
| collaboratively to create an environment where individuals with SUDs are treated with respect |
| and supported in their recovery journey; and |
| WHEREAS, Increasing public awareness of the impact of stigma and promoting the |
| adoption of respectful and inclusive language can contribute to improved outcomes for |
| individuals with SUDs and their families; and |
| WHEREAS, The statewide recovery advocacy workgroup represents individuals with |
| lived experience, recovery advocates, and key stakeholders and serves as an essential voice for |
| ensuring that policies are aligned with best practices and community needs; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby recognizes the urgent |
| need to address stigma around substance use disorders and urges state agencies, healthcare |
| providers, educators, employers, media outlets, and community organizations to adopt person- |
| first, non-stigmatizing language in their practices, communications, and policies; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby supports statewide educational campaigns to raise |
| awareness of the role of stigma in perpetuating barriers to treatment and recovery, emphasizing |
| the power of inclusive language and the importance of evidence-based approaches to SUDs; and |
| be it further |
| RESOLVED, That all Rhode Island laws, regulations, and official publications be |
| reviewed and revised, as necessary, to ensure the use of non-stigmatizing language when |
| referring to individuals with SUDs; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That all future bills and policies related to substance use disorders be |
| developed in consultation with the statewide recovery advocacy workgroup to ensure that the |
| voices of those with lived experience are incorporated, and the resulting measures reflect the best |
| practices for reducing stigma and promoting recovery; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby recognizes September |
| as Substance Use Recovery Awareness Month in the State of Rhode Island in order to highlight |
| the importance of breaking down stigma, celebrating recovery, and promoting mental health and |
| wellness across the state; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
| transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, |
| Daniel J. McKee, the Rhode Island Department of Health, and the Rhode Island Department of |
| Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities, and Hospitals (BHDDH). |
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| LC001220 |
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