Res. No. 475
Title
Resolution calling on the United States Congress to pass, and the President to sign, H.R. 5722, H.R. 5718, H.R. 5685, H.R. 5675, H.R. 5590, H.R. 5809, and H.R. 5197 to combat the opioid crisis, including actions to address the needs of those with Medicare coverage.
Body
By Council Member Holden
Whereas, Opioid abuse and death are at epidemic levels in the United States (U.S.), and, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 64,000 people died of drug overdoses in America in 2016; and
Whereas, According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), nearly 14,000 people over the age of 45 died from overdose in 2015, which accounted for 42 percent of all such deaths in the U.S.; and
Whereas, According to the New York State Department of Health (DOH), of the 668 individuals in New York City who died from an opioid overdose in 2015, 320 were between the ages of 45 and 64; and
Whereas, According to New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), every 7 hours someone in New York City dies from a drug overdose, and an estimated 1,441 people died in New York City from drug overdose in 2017, surpassing the number of overdose deaths in 2016; and
Whereas, According to the City of New York Office of the Mayor, of the people in New York City who died of a drug overdose in 2016, an estimated 80 percent involved an opioid, and, of that 80 percent, 18 percent involved prescription opioid painkillers; and
Whereas, Opioids include narcotics intended to manage pain from surgery, injury, or illness, and individuals who require surgery are at higher risk of opioid addiction; and
Whereas, According to a survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Washington Post, 25 percent of long-term opioid users started taking opioids because of pain after a surgery and another 25 percent started because of pain after an accident or injury; and
Whereas, According to...
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