UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 209
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION designating August 31, 2023, as "Overdose 1
Awareness Day" in remembrance of the lives of Kentuckians lost to drug overdoses. 2
WHEREAS, addiction remains one of the most critical public health and safety 3
issues facing the Commonwealth of Kentucky; and 4
WHEREAS, in particular, the illegal distribution and abuse of prescription drugs, 5
heroin, methamphetamine, and illicit fentanyl have contributed to an alarming, sustained 6
increase in overdose deaths; and 7
WHEREAS, the most recent Kentucky statistics reported that 1,964 Kentuckians 8
died of an overdose in 2020 and 2,250 Kentuckians in 2021; and 9
WHEREAS, this ongoing surge in overdoses is plaguing both rural and urban areas 10
in Kentucky; and 11
WHEREAS, the loss of Kentuckians to drug overdoses is devastating and extremely 12
heartbreaking; 13
NOW, THEREFORE, 14
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 15
Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Senate concurring therein: 16
Section 1. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky 17
designates August 31, 2023, as "Overdose Awareness Day" in remembrance of the lives 18
of Kentuckians lost to drug overdoses. 19
Section 2. The Governor is encouraged to issue an annual proclamation 20
recognizing "Overdose Awareness Day" and calling upon state officials to display the 21
United States flag at half-staff on all state buildings from sunrise to sunset on this day. 22
The Governor is further encouraged to request that a portion of the day be used for 23
solemn contemplation of the loss of Kentuckians' lives to the critical public health and 24
safety issue that is the overdose of prescription and illegal drugs. 25