Supporting the designation of June 6, 2023, as National Naloxone Awareness Day.

IV 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 476 Supporting the designation of June 6, 2023, as National Naloxone Awareness Day. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 6, 2023 Mr. TRONE (for himself, Ms. KUSTER, Mrs. MCCLAIN, and Mr. FITZPATRICK) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Supporting the designation of June 6, 2023, as National Naloxone Awareness Day. Whereas the opioid epidemic continues to devastate commu- nities across the United States, leading to a significant loss of life and widespread societal impact; Whereas, as of December 2022, opioid overdoses during the previous 12 months claimed a reported 79,770 lives in the United States; Whereas fatal overdoses are often witnessed by a bystander; Whereas, in 2022 alone, the Drug Enforcement Administra- tion seized more than 379,000,000 doses of potentially deadly fentanyl, enough to kill every individual in the United States; VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR476.IH HR476 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 476 IH Whereas, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl-related poisonings are currently the leading cause of death for individuals in the United States between 18 and 49 years of age; Whereas naloxone is a safe and effective medication that can reverse opioid overdoses and save lives when administered promptly by rapidly reversing the effects of opioids; Whereas naloxone plays a vital role in preventing long-term brain damage and reducing the risk of fatality associated with opioid overdoses; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared naloxone to be a key tool in preventing opioid overdose deaths; Whereas it is imperative to educate individuals, families, healthcare professionals, and first responders about— (1) the benefits of naloxone, including the potential naloxone has to reduce opioid-related fatalities; and (2) how to administer naloxone; Whereas it is imperative to identify current or potential bar- riers, including cost, for individuals, organizations, and Federal, State, and local governments to obtain and dis- tribute naloxone; Whereas increasing access to naloxone can ensure that indi- viduals struggling with opioid use disorder have a chance at recovery and a future free from the grip of substance use disorder; Whereas the Food and Drug Administration took action to authorize the over-the-counter sale of 4 milligram doses of naloxone; and Whereas recognizing National Naloxone Awareness Day will contribute to the ongoing efforts to educate the public, VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR476.IH HR476 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 476 IH reduce stigma associated with substance use disorder, and promote access to lifesaving naloxone: Now, there- fore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports the designation of National 2 Naloxone Awareness Day; 3 (2) recognizes the life-saving benefits of 4 naloxone in reversing opioid overdoses and pre- 5 venting unnecessary deaths; 6 (3) acknowledges that increased access to 7 naloxone empowers individuals, families, healthcare 8 professionals, and first responders to intervene in 9 emergency situations and provide immediate assist- 10 ance to those experiencing an opioid overdose; 11 (4) recognizes that National Naloxone Aware- 12 ness Day serves as an opportunity to educate mem- 13 bers of the public about the importance of recog- 14 nizing the signs of opioid overdose and equipping 15 themselves with naloxone to save lives; 16 (5) encourages Federal, State, and local govern- 17 ments, as well as private and nonprofit organiza- 18 tions, to collaborate and allocate resources toward 19 increasing naloxone access, education, and distribu- 20 tion efforts; and 21 (6) calls upon Federal agencies, including the 22 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Ad- 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR476.IH HR476 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 476 IH ministration, the Centers for Disease Control and 1 Prevention, the Office of National Drug Control Pol- 2 icy, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and all 3 other Federal agencies engaged in the National 4 Drug Control Strategy of the President to continue 5 supporting public awareness, harm reduction, and 6 overdose and poisoning prevention. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR476.IH HR476 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS