2025 -- H 6198
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LC002383
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING APRIL OF 2025, TO BE "ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH" IN THE
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Casimiro,
Edwards, Voas, Giraldo, Noret, and Read
Date Introduced: April 08, 2025
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, "Alcohol Awareness Month" is a public health program which began in 1
April of 1987, and is organized by the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence as 2
a way of increasing outreach and education regarding the dangers of alcoholism and issues related 3
to alcohol; and 4
WHEREAS, Alcohol abuse affects everyone, not simply the person with the drinking 5
problem. It impacts family, friends, and the workplace. The numerous initiatives promulgated 6
during Alcohol Awareness Month benefits everyone, and all people and organizations are 7
welcome to participate including parents, schools, healthcare facilities, medical professionals, law 8
enforcement, substance abuse organizations, faith-based groups and other important community 9
organizations; and 10
WHEREAS, The disease of addiction, including dangerous alcohol use, continues to 11
devastate Rhode Island's communities and remains a public health emergency that poses a 12
significant public health safety threat to our State; and 13
WHEREAS, According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 14
approximately 33 percent (12.6 million) of young people aged 12 to 20, reported that they have 15
had at least one drink in their lives. Similarly, nearly 28 percent (10.6 million) of young people 16
aged 12 to 20, reported that they drank alcohol in the past year, and 14.6 percent (5.6 million) of 17
young people aged 12-20 reported that they drank alcohol in the past month. In addition, 8.6 18
percent (3.3 million) of young people aged 12 to 20 reported that they engaged in binge-drinking 19
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of alcohol in the past month; and 1
WHEREAS, According to the National Center For Health Statistics, collectively, 2
alcohol-related deaths in the United States costs the United States Economy approximately 249 3
billion dollars and shortens the lives of those who die by 24 years; and 4
WHEREAS, According to Susan G. Komen Foundation, excessive alcohol abuse is 5
linked to at least seven types of cancer: breast, colorectal, esophagus, voice box, liver, mouth, and 6
throat; and 7
WHEREAS, According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 8
Administration (SAMHSA), there were, from January 2021 to September, 2023, an estimated 9
8,566,725 emergency room visits in the United States related to alcohol. Overall, alcohol was the 10
most prevalent substance in substance-related emergency room visits, with twice the number of 11
visits compared to opioids or cannabis; and 12
WHEREAS, The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reports that nearly 18 percent 13
of Rhode Islanders over the age of 18 binge drink at least once per month. In 2020 and 2021, 599 14
deaths per year in Rhode Island were attributable to excessive alcohol abuse; now, therefore be it 15
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 16
proclaims April of 2025, to be "Alcohol Awareness Month"; and be it further 17
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 18
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Daniel McKee, Governor of the 19
State of Rhode Island, Richard Charest, Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human 20
Services, Jerome Larkin, MD, Director of the Department of Health, and Richard Leclerc, 21
Director of the Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals. 22
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