Saving Lives Through Overdose Prevention
Adopted at the 82nd%20Annual%20Meeting in 2014
WHEREAS, drug overdose is the leading cause of injury death in the United States, ahead of both motor vehicle crashes and firearms; and
WHEREAS, one hundred Americans die every day from overdoses and overdose deaths are more commonly due to prescription painkillers than any other drug category; and
WHEREAS, during the 2006-2010 period, overdose deaths involving heroin increased 45 percent and deaths involving opioid analgesics increased 21percent; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic; and
WHEREAS, heroin and prescription drug abuse affect every community in the country; and
WHEREAS, death from opioid overdose is preventable through the use of naloxone, a medication that reverses the respiratory depression that causes death from overdose; and
WHEREAS, naloxone can be a tool to guide people into recovery by helping people seek treatment; and
WHEREAS, naloxone is effective, affordable and safe, does not have serious side effects other than those associated with opioid withdrawal, works within minutes, is not addictive, cannot be abused, and has no psycho-pharmacological effects; and
WHEREAS, naloxone is currently administered by paramedics and emergency room personnel to treat opioid overdose, but could prevent far more deaths through widespread distribution to law enforcement and other first responders; and
WHEREAS, police departments across the country in communities large and small now provide officers with naloxone; and
WHEREAS, the Food and Drug Administration approved a hand-held naloxone auto-injector specifically designed to simplify administration; and
WHEREAS, establishing emergencyGood Samaritan laws to protect people who call 911 from prosecution would increase timely medical attention to overdose victims; and
WHEREAS, eighteen states and the District of Columbia have enactedGood Samaritan laws; and
WHEREAS, the National Drug Control Strategy acknowledges that drug problems are most effectively handled at the community level and the strategy emphasizes the importance of local, community based efforts,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the United States Conference of Mayors encourages cities to equip all first responders with naloxone and expand awareness and education efforts; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the United States Conference of Mayors supports the continued establishment of emergencyGood Samaritan policies to encourage individuals to call 911 in the case of an overdose, without fear of prosecution.