Bill Text: NJ AJR68 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates March 6 of each year as "Black Balloon Day" in NJ.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-02-03 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health Committee [AJR68 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AJR68-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Designates March 6 of each year as "Black Balloon Day" in NJ.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating March 6 of each year as "Black Balloon Day" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States; and
Whereas, In 2016, there were 63,600 lethal drug overdoses, two-thirds of which involved opioids; and
Whereas, The number of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2016 was five times higher than in 1999, coinciding with a nearly 300 percent increase in the sale of opioid pain medications during that time; and
Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that, in 2016, approximately 11.5 million people in the United States misused prescription opioids; and
Whereas, In 2015, 2 million people in the United States had a substance use disorder involving prescription pain relievers and 591,000 had a substance use disorder involving heroin; and
Whereas, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that many people who become addicted to opioids go on to abuse heroin; and
Whereas, Nearly 80 percent of heroin users reported using prescription opioids prior to heroin; and
Whereas, There was more than a fivefold increase in the heroin death rate from 2002 to 2014; and
Whereas, In 2016, there were 2,221 drug overdose deaths in New Jersey; and
Whereas, In 2016, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, New Jersey's opioid-related overdose death rate of 16 deaths per 100,000 persons was higher than the national rate; and
Whereas, In 2015, illicit and prescription drug overdoses in New Jersey claimed more lives than homicides, firearm deaths, motor vehicle crashes, and suicides; and
Whereas, New Jersey's per capita rate of 8.3 heroin-related deaths per 100,000 is more than triple the national rate; and
Whereas, "Black Balloon Day" is dedicated to remembering not only those lost to drug addiction but also the friends and families of those affected by the epidemic; and
Whereas, On "Black Balloon Day," individuals and organizations across the country display a black balloon outside of their homes and businesses and in the community as a sign they have been affected by drug addiction or an overdose death; and
Whereas, "Black Balloon Day" has become a national and international event aimed at bringing awareness to drug overdose deaths and paying tribute to individuals who have lost their lives to opioid addiction; now, therefore,
Be
It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly
of the State of New Jersey:
1. March 6 of each year shall be designated as "Black Balloon
Day" in New Jersey in order to bring awareness to drug overdose deaths and pay tribute to individuals who have lost their lives to opioid addiction.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to annually issue a
proclamation recognizing March 6 as "Black Balloon Day" in New Jersey, and call upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates March 6 as "Black Balloon Day" in NJ in order to bring awareness to drug overdose deaths and pay tribute to individuals who have lost their lives to opioid addiction. In addition to remembering those lost to the disease of addiction, "Black Balloon Day" also recognizes the friends and families of those affected by the epidemic. On this day, individuals and organizations across the country display black balloons outside their homes and businesses and in the community to signify they have been affected by drug addiction or overdose deaths.
Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the US, with opioid addiction driving this epidemic. Of the 63,600 lethal drug overdoses in 2016, two-thirds were related to prescription opioids and illicit opioids such as heroin and fentanyl. The number of overdose deaths involving opioids is five times higher than in 1999. The unprecedented rise in overdose deaths in the US parallels a nearly 300 percent increase in the sale of opioid pain medications since 1999.
Coinciding with the rise in prescription opioid-related deaths is an increase in heroin-related deaths. Many people who become addicted to opioids go on to abuse heroin, a semi-synthetic opioid drug. Heroin overdose deaths in the US have significantly increased since the early 2000s. Nearly 80 percent of heroin users reported using prescription opioids prior to using heroin.
The opioid epidemic has also affected NJ. In 2016, NJ's opioid-related overdose death rate was higher than the national rate. In 2015, illicit and prescription drug overdoses in the state claimed more lives than homicides, firearm deaths, motor vehicle crashes, and suicides. NJ has a per capita rate of heroin-related deaths that is more than three times higher than the national rate.
Under this joint resolution, the Governor is respectfully requested to issue an annual proclamation recognizing March 6 as "Black Balloon Day" in NJ and call upon public officials and the citizens of this state to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.
