HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-27 ProclamationPROCLAIMING AUGUST 31, 2018 AS INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY
WHEREAS, International Overdose Awareness Day ismglobal event held August 31 each year
dedicated to remembrance, awareness, education, and action to help eliminate
overdose deaths; and
WHEREAS, With the deaths of 418 Mainers by overdose in 2017, up 11 % from 376 from 2016,
overdose deaths inMaine continue horise; and
WHEREAS, 65 of those deaths were in Penobscot County, almost half of which were residents of
Bangor; and
WHEREAS. Health Equity Alliance (HEAL) along with Public Health and other Community entities
strives toreduce overdose death inthe Greater Bangor Area: and
WHEREAS, HEAL distributes Naloxone free of charge to anyone who requests it and provides a 15
minute training session before distributing; and
WHEREAS, As an "opioid antagonist" used to counter the effects of opioid overdose, Naloxone
helps revive people going through onopioid overdose long enough for them toget
,
help; and
WHEREAS, Between March of 2016 through January of 2017, HEAL distributed 252 kits containing
Naloxone, aowell as assisting the Community Health Leadership Board indistributing
their circle of caring hito, directly to people actively using drugs; and
WHEREAS, Of the 252 kits distributed HEAL staff has confirmed more than 60 successful
reversals, stating "That's 60 lives saved, 60 families spared the loss of a parent or
child" " and
WHEREAS, HEAL is in the process of raising $31,350 to fund the purchase of 418 Naloxone kits to
continue this work, one for each life lost in2O17;and
WHEREAS, HEAL is sponsoring onevent in Pickering Square from 5-8 pnnonAugust 31 to honor
ofthose lost lives bythe reading oftheir names; and
WHEREAS, The event will include training onpreventing, identifying and responding toonopioid
overdose with naloxone gawell moband performances and afood truck; and
WHEREAS, All proceeds will be used to maintain and expand access to naloxone in an effort to
lower Maine's escalating overdose death rabm, including fostering new distribution
points inareas that currently lack access tothe medication.
Now, Therefore, 1, Benjamin A'Sprague, Mayor mythe City of Bangor, onbehalf ofthe City Council,
and the citizens of Bangor, do hereby proclaim August 31, 2018 as International Overdose Awareness
Given this the 27 th day of August, 2018.