WHEREAS, Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with 52,404 lethal drug overdoses in 2015; and
WHEREAS, Opioid addiction is driving this epidemic, with 20,101 overdose deaths related to prescription pain relievers in 2015 and 12,990 overdose deaths related to heroin in 2015; and
WHEREAS, From 1999 to 2008, overdose death rates, sales, and substance use disorder treatment admissions related to prescription pain relievers increased in parallel. The overdose death rate in 2008 was nearly four times the 1999 rate, sales of prescription pain relievers in 2010 were four times those in 1999, and the substance use disorder treatment admission rate in 2009 was six times the 1999 rate; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids, which is more than enough to give every American adult his or her own bottle of pills; and
WHEREAS, Drug overdose deaths and opioid-involved deaths continue to increase in the United States; and
WHEREAS, From 2000 to 2015, more than one-half million people died from drug overdoses. Every day, 91 Americans die from an opioid overdose; and
WHEREAS, Overdoses from prescription opioids are a driving factor in the 15-year increase in opioid overdose deaths. The amount of prescription opioids sold to pharmacies, hospitals, and doctors’ offices nearly quadrupled from 1999 to 2010, yet there was no overall change in the amount of pain that Americans reported; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, That in recognition of the public health crisis caused by the ongoing opioid epidemic, the Senate hereby recognizes the first week of March as Opioid Overdose Death Awareness Week; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.