[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 355 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 355

 Supporting the recognition and goals of Overdose Awareness Day in the 
                             United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 13, 2021

   Mr. Markey (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Brown, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. 
 Warren, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Manchin, and Mr. Blumenthal) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
               on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the recognition and goals of Overdose Awareness Day in the 
                             United States.

Whereas more than 750,000 individuals in the United States have died from a drug 
        overdose since 1999;
Whereas substance use disorders and drug overdoses affect all socioeconomic 
        groups, racial and ethnic groups, geographic regions, and ages;
Whereas substance use disorders are a chronic disease, and recognizing those 
        disorders as such decreases stigma and acknowledges that substance use 
        may be beyond the control of an individual;
Whereas overdose deaths are preventable, and lives can be saved through 
        awareness, prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support;
Whereas overdose deaths claimed more than 93,000 lives in the United States in 
        2020, and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has 
        contributed to the acceleration of overdose deaths;
Whereas communities across the United States have been pained by substance use 
        disorders through the premature loss of lives and the stigma associated 
        with drug-related fatalities; and
Whereas numerous States across the United States have lowered their State flags 
        in recognition of Overdose Awareness Day: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the recognition and goals of Overdose 
        Awareness Day in the United States; and
            (2) encourages all Federal buildings in the United States 
        to lower their flags to half-staff on August 31 of each year to 
        support awareness of overdoses.
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