SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 43
(By Senators Kessler, Unger, Stollings, Snyder, Edgell, Jenkins,
Foster, Plymale, Minard, McCabe, Yost and Wells)
Recognizing the work of the West Virginia Behavioral Healthcare
Providers Association and the West Virginia Association of
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors in providing for a safe,
productive and healthy workforce for the State Of West
Virginia.
Whereas, One in five families in the State of West Virginia is
directly affected by addiction and approximately 160,000 West
Virginia citizens are dependent on alcohol or another drug; and
Whereas, Direct and indirect costs attributable to alcohol and
other drug use in West Virginia are $1.86 billion or $1,033 per
resident; and
Whereas, The Journal of American Medicine reported in January,
2009, that the rate of fatal overdose from opiate drugs in West
Virginia is more than twice that of the national average; and
Whereas, More than half of all of West Virginia's prison
inmates were under the influence of drugs or alcohol when they were
arrested; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby recognizes the work of the West
Virginia Behavioral Healthcare Providers Association and the West Virginia Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors in
providing for a safe, productive and healthy workforce for the
State Of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate hereby seeks to aid these
organizations in obtaining funding through the American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009 passed by the United States Congress
in February of this year; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Governor, the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Resources, the
Commissioner of the Division of Corrections, the Chairperson of the
West Virginia Behavioral Healthcare Providers Association's
Substance Abuse Committee and the President of the West Virginia
Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.