SENATE MEMORIAL 7

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024

INTRODUCED BY

Leo Jaramillo

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO DECLARE THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 14 THROUGH OCTOBER 18, 2024 "FENTANYL POISONING AWARENESS WEEK" AND TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS AND GOVERNING BODIES OF CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PARTICIPATE BY PROVIDING AGE-APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND INFORMATION ADDRESSING THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF AND ADDICTION TO FENTANYL.

 

     WHEREAS, New Mexico, like every state in the nation, is facing an unprecedented loss of lives due to opioid overdoses; and

     WHEREAS, opioids are narcotic medications prescribed by doctors and used by patients to treat pain, and opioids can affect parts of the brain and body that regulate mood, blood pressure and breathing; and

     WHEREAS, fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid prescribed for the treatment of extreme pain, fentanyl and fentanyl analogues are now found in many street drugs and even a small amount can cause a person to overdose; and

     WHEREAS, illicit fentanyl is showing up in pills, heroin, methamphetamines and cocaine, causing deaths, and fentanyl overdoses have increased dramatically since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic; and

     WHEREAS, according to an August 24, 2023 report by the legislative finance committee, New Mexico's drug overdose death rate was the sixth highest in the nation in 2021, and the department of health reported that in that same year, fifty-six percent of New Mexico's overdoses involved fentanyl; and        WHEREAS, the report by the legislative finance committee indicates that fentanyl deaths surged after 2019, compounding the already high overdose death rate from methamphetamines and other opioids, and according to the department of health, methamphetamine and fentanyl are now the most common causes of drug overdose deaths in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, in 2021, five hundred seventy-four New Mexicans died from a fentanyl-related overdose and four hundred eighty-eight died from a methamphetamine-related overdose. In total, one thousand twenty-nine New Mexicans died of drug overdoses in 2021, roughly three people per day; and

     WHEREAS, although New Mexico has targeted significant funding and resources to address substance use disorders through evidence-based harm reduction and treatment programs, the state has not yet been able to reverse trends in substance-related deaths, which have increased in recent years; and

     WHEREAS, there has been a decline from a decade ago in the use of drugs and alcohol as reported in the youth risk behavior survey used to measure behaviors and experiences that can lead to death and disability among young adults, but the survey does not ask questions about fentanyl or synthetic opioid use and the rates of drug use among New Mexico youth remain higher than national averages; and

     WHEREAS, as stated in the legislative finance committee report, the national institutes of health suggest that interventions in early childhood can help prevent future drug use; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico public schools are uniquely positioned to increase awareness among the state's youth regarding the risks associated with the use of and addiction to fentanyl and to provide research-based fentanyl use and addiction instruction along with resources for preventing overdose deaths; and

     WHEREAS, the federal government's substance abuse and mental health services administration recognizes the month of October as national substance abuse prevention month; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico can increase drug abuse prevention awareness and specifically highlight the risks associated with the use of and addiction to fentanyl by providing age-appropriate information to public school students;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the public education department be requested to declare the week of October 14 through October 18, 2024 "Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week"; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the public education department be requested to encourage local school boards and governing bodies of charter schools to participate in and promote Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week by providing age-appropriate educational activities and information addressing the risks associated with the use of and addiction to fentanyl; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the public education department for appropriate distribution.

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