Pennsylvania SR 133: A Resolution designating the week of July 21 through 25, 2025, as "Construction Opioid Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1046
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No. 133
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY KANE, ROBINSON, TARTAGLIONE, COMITTA, COSTA,
HUGHES, SANTARSIERO, SCHWANK AND HAYWOOD, JULY 10, 2025
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JULY 10, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of July 21 through 25, 2025, as
"Construction Opioid Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Opioids are deadly and are responsible for claiming
more than 700,000 American lives between 1999 and 2024; and
WHEREAS, Drug overdose deaths in the United States were
reduced from 110,037 in 2023 to 80,391 in 2024 according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and
WHEREAS, More than 68%, or 54,743, of overdose deaths in 2024
involved an opioid according to the CDC; and
WHEREAS, A National Center for Health Statistics report
confirmed the construction industry has been hit hard by the
opioid crisis; and
WHEREAS, According to the report entitled, "Drug Overdose
Mortality by Usual Occupation and Industry," released August 22,
2023, the construction industry had the highest rate of overdose
deaths in 2020, with a rate of 130.9 deaths per 100,000 workers;
and
WHEREAS, The construction industry, which involves physically
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demanding labor and employs an aging workforce, has been
particularly vulnerable to the opioid epidemic; and
WHEREAS, Drug abuse issues in the construction industry
endanger not only the individual worker, but the companies they
work for, other workers on the jobsite and the general public
near jobsites; and
WHEREAS, The summer months are the busiest for the
construction industry and are an ideal time for promoting
awareness of the dangers of opioid abuse; and
WHEREAS, Many construction organizations have been utilizing
services and resources from the National Safety Council to
create an educational toolbox for members of the construction
industry, including materials to facilitate discussions with
workers about the dangers of opioids and prescription drug
abuse, and "Warn Me" stickers to place on workers' insurance
cards in the hopes of encouraging health care providers to
discuss opioid issues with those workers; and
WHEREAS, Contractors and contractor organizations such as the
Keystone Contractors Association are advocating for keeping
naloxone on construction sites and contractors offices; and
WHEREAS, Contractors and contractor organizations, including
the Keystone Contractors Association are providing free naloxone
to any construction company in this Commonwealth that requests
it; and
WHEREAS, The 988 mental health and suicide crisis prevention
hotline has helped more than 14.5 million people since 2022,
including construction workers, receive the mental health
support they need every day of the year according to Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration statistics; and
WHEREAS, The construction industry continues to support the
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988 hotline with hardhat stickers and giveaway coins; and
WHEREAS, The following groups plan to promote the awareness
and dangers of opioids and prescription drug abuse within the
construction industry during the last full week in the month of
July:
(1) Keystone Contractors Association;
(2) National Safety Council;
(3) Pennsylvania Utility Contractors Association;
(4) Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades
Council;
(5) Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of
Carpenters;
(6) Laborers International Union of North America -
Pennsylvania Council;
(7) Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors
National Association - Pennsylvania Chapter;
(8) Master Builders' Association of Western
Pennsylvania;
(9) National Electrical Contractors Association of
Western Pennsylvania;
(10) Mechanical Contractors Association of America -
Pennsylvania Chapters;
(11) Pennsylvania Builders Exchange;
(12) Architectural Glass and Metal Association;
(13) Ironworker Employers Association of Western
Pennsylvania;
(14) American Subcontractors Association of Central
Pennsylvania; and
(15) General Building Contractors Association;
therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of July 21
through 25, 2025, as "Construction Opioid Awareness Week" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the construction industry in Pennsylvania be
encouraged to promote awareness of the dangers of opioids and
prescription drug abuse with workers in the industry and
facilitate discussions and events such as "Drug Take Back"
events to combat the opioid and prescription drug abuse epidemic
in Pennsylvania's construction industry.
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