HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 3

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

INTRODUCED BY

Art De La Cruz and Cristina Parajón and D. Wonda Johnson

and John Block

 

 

 

 

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE OCTOBER AS FENTANYL OVERDOSE PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH.

 

     WHEREAS, fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid drug prescribed for the treatment of extreme pain; and

     WHEREAS, fentanyl and fentanyl analogs are found in many street drugs, and only a small amount can cause an overdose; and

     WHEREAS, illicit fentanyl is showing up in pills, heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine and causing unprecedented overdose deaths; and

     WHEREAS, overdose due to fentanyl has increased dramatically, particularly since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic began in 2020; and

     WHEREAS, naloxone, a life-saving medication, can reverse overdoses from fentanyl; and

     WHEREAS, naloxone can be obtained at pharmacies, public health offices, community organizations and through harm reduction services; and

     WHEREAS, residents of New Mexico can safely administer naloxone to fentanyl overdose victims; and

     WHEREAS, high schools can keep naloxone in a cabinet for emergencies, and nurses and staff at high schools can be easily trained on the use of naloxone to prevent fentanyl overdoses in schools;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to declare October as fentanyl overdose prevention and awareness month; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor and the secretary of public education.

- 2 -