Full Text of HR0665 103rd General Assembly
HR0665 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY | | | HR0665 | | LRB103 39955 LAW 71084 r |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) | 3 | | reported 3,261 opioid-related overdose fatalities in 2022, | 4 | | representing an estimated 272 lives lost every month as the | 5 | | State's overdose crisis persists; and | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office | 7 | | confirmed that 2,000 opioid-related deaths occurred in Cook | 8 | | County during 2022, with Black residents comprising 56% of | 9 | | deaths despite only representing 23% of the county's | 10 | | population; and | 11 | | WHEREAS, The Opioid Data Dashboard provided by IDPH | 12 | | vividly demonstrates the extensive reach of opioid-related | 13 | | overdose across the State; outside of Cook County, the | 14 | | counties that experience the brunt of fatalities include Will | 15 | | County, Winnebago County, DuPage County, Lake County, Kane | 16 | | County, Madison County, St. Clair County, Sangamon County, | 17 | | McHenry County, and Champaign County; and | 18 | | WHEREAS, Harm reduction is defined as a set of practical | 19 | | strategies and philosophy aimed at reducing negative | 20 | | consequences associated with drug use; it is also a movement | 21 | | for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the | 22 | | rights of people who use drugs; and |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Harm reduction measures help to reduce HIV | 2 | | transmissions, among other benefits, including assisting in | 3 | | the prevention against the acquisition of other blood-borne | 4 | | viruses such as Hepatitis B and C, the prevention of fatal | 5 | | overdoses, the decrease in encounters with the criminal legal | 6 | | system, the reduction of social exclusion for people who use | 7 | | drugs, and the improvement in access to medical care, mental | 8 | | health support, housing, community support, food, and other | 9 | | basic needs; and | 10 | | WHEREAS, Extensive research and reports continue to | 11 | | demonstrate that harm reduction strategies not only save lives | 12 | | by preventing overdose deaths but also limit State expenses in | 13 | | response to hospitalizations, emergency calls, and deaths, | 14 | | promote public safety by diverting hazardous waste from public | 15 | | spaces, and do not lead to an increase in crime rates; and | 16 | | WHEREAS, Harm reduction operates on the understanding that | 17 | | recovery is a multifaceted journey and that harm reduction | 18 | | strategies complement traditional recovery approaches; and | 19 | | WHEREAS, While people who use drugs continue to face | 20 | | social stigma, they still possess the right to receive access | 21 | | to housing, education, economic mobility, mental health care, | 22 | | and a range of services to support a better quality of life; |
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| 1 | | and | 2 | | WHEREAS, Harm reduction acknowledges the intersecting | 3 | | systems of oppression that marginalize people who use drugs | 4 | | and centers the need for racial, economic, and gender justice | 5 | | within policies and practices; and | 6 | | WHEREAS, Across the State, harm reductionists tirelessly | 7 | | dedicate themselves towards mitigating the harms of substance | 8 | | use and providing critical support to individuals in need, and | 9 | | it is essential to recognize and appreciate the strain and | 10 | | labor undertaken by these individuals as they endure secondary | 11 | | trauma and navigate complex social, economic, and political | 12 | | landscapes; and | 13 | | WHEREAS, Not a region in the State goes untouched by the | 14 | | impacts of overdose, and a shared collective interest in | 15 | | safety forms the solidarity necessary to take urgent action to | 16 | | prevent further loss of life and devastation within our | 17 | | communities; therefore, be it | 18 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | 19 | | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 20 | | we declare April 14 through April 20, 2024 as Harm Reduction | 21 | | Solidarity Week in the State of Illinois in order to raise | 22 | | awareness about the principles and practices of harm |
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| 1 | | reduction, emphasizing its vital role in public health and | 2 | | safety; and be it further | 3 | | RESOLVED, That we encourage communities to engage in | 4 | | activities that promote education, dialogue, and support for | 5 | | harm reduction initiatives during Harm Reduction Solidarity | 6 | | Week; and be it further | 7 | | RESOLVED, That we recognize the importance of promoting | 8 | | public health and safety through highlighting proactive | 9 | | measures like harm reduction coupled with recent legislative | 10 | | accomplishments, such as expanding comprehensive drug | 11 | | education in schools and providing wider access to harm | 12 | | reduction tools, including naloxone, testing strips, and safe | 13 | | supplies education and distribution; and be it further | 14 | | RESOLVED, That we acknowledge the dedication and | 15 | | contributions of harm reductionists and express our gratitude | 16 | | for their tireless efforts to address substance use-related | 17 | | harm; and be it further | 18 | | RESOLVED, That we reaffirm our commitment to supporting | 19 | | evidence-based harm reduction strategies and to leading with | 20 | | compassion and humanity in place of perpetuating stigma and | 21 | | criminalization in order to greatly reduce substance | 22 | | use-related harm in Illinois. |
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