HR1049: HR1049 Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness Day; last Wednesday of October each year; designate

26 LC 64 0094S House Resolution 1049 (RULES COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE) By: Representatives Hugley of the 141st, Griffin of the 149th, Berry of the 56th, Park of the 107th, and Jones of the 143rd A RESOLUTION Designating the Wednesday of the last week in October of each year as Fentanyl and Opioid1 Awareness Day in Georgia; and for other purposes. 2 WHEREAS, the Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest, largest drug prevention program in the3 United States, and Red Ribbon Week, held annually October 23 through 31, is a time when4 schools and communities focus on young people living safe, healthy, and drug-free lives; and5 WHEREAS, the Georgia Department of Public Health reports that from 2019 to 2021, the6 total number of opioid-related overdose deaths increased from 853 to 1,718, and more than7 half were attributed to fentanyl; and8 WHEREAS, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 1009 times more potent than morphine, and is inexpensive, widely available, and highly addictive,10 and comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and forms; and11 WHEREAS, many colleges and universities are making naloxone, an antidote for opioid12 poisoning, accessible on campus at clinics and counseling centers, the campus police, or in13 vending machines in resident halls; and14 H. R. 1049 (SUB) - 1 - 26 LC 64 0094S WHEREAS, fentanyl use and abuse are happening at middle schools and high schools, and15 the best way to protect students from substance use and abuse i s having regular and open16 conversations to educate them about the risks, dangers, and effects of fentanyl use and abuse;17 and18 WHEREAS, fentanyl overdoses are happening at middle schools and high schools, and the19 best way to counter an overdose is raising awareness of the sym ptoms of an overdose,20 offering students a reliable space to seek help, and having naloxone readily available at the21 school nurse's office; and22 WHEREAS, on Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness Day and throughout th e year, Georgia23 policymakers can and should make it their number one priority t o encourage all Georgia24 students to live safe, healthy, and drug-free lives by providin g educational materials and25 overdose prevention kits at middle schools and high schools.26 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE HOUSE OF27 REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body designate the Wednesday of the last28 week in October of each year as Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness Day in Georgia. 29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized30 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the31 public and the press.32 H. R. 1049 (SUB) - 2 -