PRINTER'S NO. 1654

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

363

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY DONATUCCI, READSHAW, MURT, THOMAS, FREEMAN,

SCHLOSSBERG, BROWNLEE, FARINA, YOUNGBLOOD, SCHWEYER, BARRAR,

ROZZI, SCHREIBER, COHEN, MAHONEY, GIBBONS, BRADFORD, FRANKEL

2014 report entitled "Heroin: Combating this Growing Epidemic in

Pennsylvania," this Commonwealth finds itself at the epicenter

of a heroin epidemic, the signs of which are evidenced by the

dramatic increase in the number of reported overdose deaths in

nearly every region of this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The authors of the report opined that the rise in

heroin and opioid abuse in this Commonwealth has no geographic

boundaries and crosses all socioeconomic groups, ages and races;

and

WHEREAS, According to data from the Pennsylvania State

individuals per hundred thousand to 15.4 individuals per hundred

thousand; and

WHEREAS, The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)

reported that for the year 2009, the per capita rate of drug-

induced deaths in this Commonwealth, 15.7 per 100,000

individuals, exceeded the national average of 12.8 per 100,000

individuals; and

WHEREAS, In the March 2015 National Center for Health

Statistics data brief entitled "Drug-Poisoning Deaths Involving

Heroin: United States 2000-2013," the Centers for Disease

adults 45 to 64 years of age; and

WHEREAS, From 2010 through 2013, the death rate for adults 18

to 24 years of age increased 2.3-fold from 1.7 to 3.9 per

100,000, for adults 25 to 44 years of age the rate increased

2.8-fold from 1.9 to 5.4 and for adults 45 to 64 years of age

the rate increased 2.7-fold from 1.1 to 3.0; and

WHEREAS, The CDC reports that in 2000, non-Hispanic black

persons 45 to 64 years of age had the highest rate for drug-

poisoning deaths involving heroin, 2.0 per 100,000, and in 2013,

non-Hispanic white persons 18 to 44 years of age had the highest

WHEREAS, As reported by the ONDCP, in 2009 there were 1,983

drug-induced deaths in this Commonwealth compared to 1,378

deaths from motor vehicle accidents; and

WHEREAS, Analysis of treatment data compiled by the Federal

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

between 1992 and 2010 revealed that heroin is the most commonly

cited drug among primary drug treatment admissions in this

Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The ONDCP reported that in 2010 almost one-third of

drug treatment admissions in this Commonwealth were for heroin;

WHEREAS, The proliferation in heroin is attributed to

increased production in Mexico, Mexican traffickers expanding

their distribution networks into the white powder heroin markets

in the Mid-Atlantic, northeastern and western regions of the

United States and the switch by many abusers of prescription

opioids such as Hydrocodone and OxyContin to heroin as a cheaper

and more easily obtained alternative to prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, Law enforcement officials have reported that a one-

dose bag of heroin costs between $3 and $5; and

WHEREAS, This cheaper heroin is deadlier and can be up to 70%

states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New

Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maryland,

West Virginia and Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Many citizens of this Commonwealth, whether in

cities, suburbs or rural communities, are at increased risk of

victimization because of the heroin epidemic; and

WHEREAS, Law enforcement cannot police us out of this heroin

epidemic and it is, therefore, necessary and appropriate to

establish the Heroin and Opioid Eradication and Treatment Task

Force to focus exclusively on the heroin epidemic as a public

RESOLVED, That the Heroin and Opioid Eradication and

Treatment Task Force be established for the explicit purpose of

studying current trends, policies and laws concerning heroin and

opiod abuse; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the primary focus of the task force be to

confront the heroin epidemic as a public health crisis and

evaluate the policies, laws and activities relating to heroin

use, drug abuse, addiction and prevention in this Commonwealth,

other states and, if deemed appropriate, in foreign

jurisdictions; and be it further

practices;

overdoses that result in death; and

heroin use; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the task force develop recommendations for

comprehensive legislation and strategies to create more

effective policies crafted to combat the threat of the heroin

crisis to public health and the general welfare of the residents

serve as chair and who shall be responsible for overall

supervision of the activities of the task force or a

designee;

ex officio;

designee, who shall serve ex officio;

one appointed by the Majority Leader and one appointed by the

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may

appoint a member who shall be a judge of a court of common

pleas; and be it further

RESOLVED, That vacancies in the membership of public members

of the task force be filled in the same manner as the original

appointments; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the public members be appointed no more than

45 days after the final adoption of this concurrent resolution;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the task force organize as soon as practicable

but no later than 15 days after appointment of a majority of the

public members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the task force meet and hold hearings at such

compensated for their service but shall be reimbursed for

expenses incurred in the discharge of their official duties in

accordance with Commonwealth policy in effect for agencies under

the jurisdiction of the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the standing committees of the Senate and the

standing committees of the House of Representatives with

jurisdiction over public health, human services, judicial

matters and insurance provide professional and clerical staff to

the task force to effectuate the purposes of this concurrent

resolution; and be it further

individuals with expertise in or knowledge of heroin abuse,

addiction and treatment; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the task force submit a report of its findings

and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than six

months after the organization of the task force.