* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Pinkett
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
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National Recovery Month - September 2018
For the purpose of recognizing September as National Recovery Month and encouraging all Baltimore citizens suffering from mental and substance use disorders to cast off shame and seek treatment on their way to recovery.
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Recitals
Baltimore City has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic. Between 2011 and 2017, the number of overdose deaths more than quadrupled. People suffering from substance use disorders and mental health problems sometimes suffer in silence and never receive the help they need. Baltimore City recognizes September as National Recovery Month to spread the word that there is a way out of hopelessness and to recovery from mental and substance use disorders.
The theme of this September’s National Recovery Month is Join the Voices for Recovery: Invest in Health, Home, Purpose, and Community. This year’s theme emphasizes how integrated care, a strong community, sense of purpose, and leadership leads to effective treatment. Baltimore City agencies are working together to implement these goals in our community.
Baltimore City is a leader in providing integrated care. In April of this year, the Mayor, Health Commissioner, and leadership at the City’s eleven hospitals launched the Levels of Care Guide for City hospitals, which provides a framework for hospitals to achieve best practices in response to the opioid epidemic. Such best practices include offering peer recovery support services to admitted patients and offering medication-assisted treatment in hospital outpatient clinics.
Baltimore City thrives as a community and has a strong sense of purpose. Our community members celebrate one another in festivals as diverse as ArtScape and AFRAM. We recognize addiction is a disease and with proper care can be overcome. We lift up our community members who suffer from mental health and substance use disorders.
In recognizing September as National Recovery Month, we raise awareness of treatment options and celebrate our citizens’ strength and fortitude in embracing these options to lead happy and healthy lives.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That September is recognized as National Recovery Month and encourage those suffering from mental and substance use disorders to seek treatment.
And be it further resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the Baltimore City Council.