Delaware 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Delaware House Bill HCR131 Draft / Bill

                    SPONSOR:      Rep. Chukwuocha & Rep. Heffernan & Sen. Gay       Reps. K. Johnson, Morrison, Parker Selby, Harris, S. Moore, Neal, Postles; Sens. Sokola, Hansen, Hoffner, Wilson           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES   152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 131       RECOGNIZING MAY 15, 2024, AS YOUTH PREVENTION DAY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Rep. Chukwuocha & Rep. Heffernan & Sen. Gay       Reps. K. Johnson, Morrison, Parker Selby, Harris, S. Moore, Neal, Postles; Sens. Sokola, Hansen, Hoffner, Wilson     

SPONSOR: Rep. Chukwuocha & Rep. Heffernan & Sen. Gay
Reps. K. Johnson, Morrison, Parker Selby, Harris, S. Moore, Neal, Postles; Sens. Sokola, Hansen, Hoffner, Wilson

 SPONSOR:  

 Rep. Chukwuocha & Rep. Heffernan & Sen. Gay 

 Reps. K. Johnson, Morrison, Parker Selby, Harris, S. Moore, Neal, Postles; Sens. Sokola, Hansen, Hoffner, Wilson 

   

 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 131 

   

 RECOGNIZING MAY 15, 2024, AS YOUTH PREVENTION DAY IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE. 

   

  WHEREAS, substance misuse and mental health problems affect all communities nationwide; and    WHEREAS, according to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 61.2 million Americans ages 12 and older used illicit drugs in the past year; and    WHEREAS, nearly 6 million young people (aged 12 to 20) reported drinking alcohol in the past month and 22% of Americans (74 million people) aged 12 and older used tobacco products or an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month; and   WHEREAS, early drug misuse correlates with early life substance use disorders, stunting development and often persisting into the adult years; and,   WHEREAS, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, approximately 21.3% of 8  th   graders have tried illicit drugs at least once and by the time they are in the 12  th   grade, 46.6% of teens have tried illicit drugs; and   WHEREAS, 11.2% of overdose deaths nationwide are from those aged 15 to 24 years; and   WHEREAS, in Delaware, 6.22% of all 12- to 17-year-olds met the criteria for illicit drug use disorder and 3.11% in that same age group met the criteria for alcohol use disorder in the last year; and   WHEREAS,  in 2019, 36.5% of U.S. high school students reported that they currently use a tobacco product and 27.5% reported using e-cigarettes, and in Delaware, 19.4% of high school students report using a tobacco product and 13.6% report using an e-cigarette; and   WHEREAS, the impact of mental health and substance use disorders is apparent in our local communities; and    WHEREAS, with commitment, support, and collaboration from federal, state, and local entities, substance use, and mental health disorders can be prevented or lessened; and   WHEREAS, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has sponsored National Prevention Week annually with a focus on changing the prevention landscape by providing evidence-based and accessible resources to facilitate collective action and story-sharing; and   WHEREAS, prevention has been at the core of health and wellness in Delaware; and   WHEREAS, organizations like the Delaware Prevention Partners work in collaboration with state agencies and community organizations to engage youth with prevention programming and resources early on; and    WHEREAS, on May 15, 2024, thirty high school students representing schools in all three counties participated in a forum with the Lt. Governor, members of the Behavioral Health Consortium, and policymakers to share ideas and bring solutions and recommendations to address important substance abuse and mental health issues.   NOW, THEREFORE:   BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that May 15, 2024, shall be known as Youth Prevention Day in Delaware, encouraging state agencies and community organizations to spread awareness, share evidence-based prevention programming and resources, and engage youth in age-appropriate supports.      

 WHEREAS, substance misuse and mental health problems affect all communities nationwide; and  

 WHEREAS, according to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 61.2 million Americans ages 12 and older used illicit drugs in the past year; and  

 WHEREAS, nearly 6 million young people (aged 12 to 20) reported drinking alcohol in the past month and 22% of Americans (74 million people) aged 12 and older used tobacco products or an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month; and 

 WHEREAS, early drug misuse correlates with early life substance use disorders, stunting development and often persisting into the adult years; and, 

 WHEREAS, according to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, approximately 21.3% of 8  th   graders have tried illicit drugs at least once and by the time they are in the 12  th   grade, 46.6% of teens have tried illicit drugs; and 

 WHEREAS, 11.2% of overdose deaths nationwide are from those aged 15 to 24 years; and 

 WHEREAS, in Delaware, 6.22% of all 12- to 17-year-olds met the criteria for illicit drug use disorder and 3.11% in that same age group met the criteria for alcohol use disorder in the last year; and 

 WHEREAS,  in 2019, 36.5% of U.S. high school students reported that they currently use a tobacco product and 27.5% reported using e-cigarettes, and in Delaware, 19.4% of high school students report using a tobacco product and 13.6% report using an e-cigarette; and 

 WHEREAS, the impact of mental health and substance use disorders is apparent in our local communities; and  

 WHEREAS, with commitment, support, and collaboration from federal, state, and local entities, substance use, and mental health disorders can be prevented or lessened; and 

 WHEREAS, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has sponsored National Prevention Week annually with a focus on changing the prevention landscape by providing evidence-based and accessible resources to facilitate collective action and story-sharing; and 

 WHEREAS, prevention has been at the core of health and wellness in Delaware; and 

 WHEREAS, organizations like the Delaware Prevention Partners work in collaboration with state agencies and community organizations to engage youth with prevention programming and resources early on; and  

 WHEREAS, on May 15, 2024, thirty high school students representing schools in all three counties participated in a forum with the Lt. Governor, members of the Behavioral Health Consortium, and policymakers to share ideas and bring solutions and recommendations to address important substance abuse and mental health issues. 

 NOW, THEREFORE: 

 BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that May 15, 2024, shall be known as Youth Prevention Day in Delaware, encouraging state agencies and community organizations to spread awareness, share evidence-based prevention programming and resources, and engage youth in age-appropriate supports. 

   

  SYNOPSIS   This House Concurrent Resolution designates May 15, 2024, as Youth Prevention Day in the state of Delaware.      

 SYNOPSIS 

 This House Concurrent Resolution designates May 15, 2024, as Youth Prevention Day in the state of Delaware.