Designating June 6, 2023, as National Naloxone Awareness Day.

Designating June 6, 2023, as National Naloxone Awareness Day. Whereas the opioid epidemic continues to devastate communities across the United States, leading to a significant loss of life and widespread societal impact; Whereas, as of December 2022, opioid overdoses during the previous 12 months claimed a reported 79,770 lives in the United States; Whereas fatal overdoses are often witnessed by a bystander; Whereas, in 2022 alone, the Drug Enforcement Administration seized more than 379,000,000 doses of potentially deadly fentanyl, enough to kill every individual in the United States; Whereas, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl-related poisonings are currently the leading cause of death for individuals in the United States between 18 and 49 years of age; Whereas naloxone is a safe and effective medication that can reverse opioid overdoses and save lives when administered promptly by rapidly reversing the effects of opioids; Whereas naloxone plays a vital role in preventing long-term brain damage and reducing the risk of fatality associated with opioid overdoses; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared naloxone to be a key tool in preventing opioid overdose deaths; Whereas it is imperative to educate individuals, families, healthcare professionals, and first responders about (1) the benefits of naloxone, including the potential naloxone has to reduce opioid-related fatalities; and (2) how to administer naloxone; Whereas it is imperative to identify current or potential barriers, including cost, for individuals, organizations, and Federal, State, and local governments to obtain and distribute naloxone; Whereas increasing access to naloxone can ensure that individuals struggling with opioid use disorder have a chance at recovery and a future free from the grip of substance use disorder; Whereas the Food and Drug Administration took action to authorize the over-the-counter sale of 4 milligram doses of naloxone; and Whereas recognizing National Naloxone Awareness Day will contribute to the ongoing efforts to educate the public, reduce stigma associated with substance use disorder, and promote access to lifesaving naloxone: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) designates June 6, 2023, as National Naloxone Awareness Day; (2) recognizes the life-saving benefits of naloxone in reversing opioid overdoses and preventing unnecessary deaths; (3) acknowledges that increased access to naloxone empowers individuals, families, healthcare professionals, and first responders to intervene in emergency situations and provide immediate assistance to those experiencing an opioid overdose; (4) recognizes that National Naloxone Awareness Day serves as an opportunity to educate members of the public about the importance of recognizing the signs of opioid overdose and equipping themselves with naloxone to save lives; (5) encourages Federal, State, and local governments, as well as private and nonprofit organizations, to collaborate and allocate resources toward increasing naloxone access, education, and distribution efforts; and (6) calls upon Federal agencies, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and all other Federal agencies engaged in the National Drug Control Strategy of the President to continue supporting public awareness, harm reduction, and overdose and poisoning prevention.

Summary: This resolution designates June 6, 2023, as National Naloxone Awareness Day. Naloxone is a medication that temporarily reverses opioid overdoses.