Bipartisan Shaheen-Led Resolution Designates Today as National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day
**The bipartisan resolution led by Senators Shaheen and Grassley was passed unanimously by the Senate earlier this month to raise awareness and memorialize victims of drug overdose**
(Washington, DC) – A bipartisan resolution led by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA)—which passed the Senate unanimously—designates today as “Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day.” The bipartisan push aims to drive awareness of the dangers of fentanyl, highlight prevention efforts and encourage drug-free lifestyles.
“I’m glad the Senate came together earlier this month to unanimously pass our bipartisan resolution designating today, August 21, as National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day,” said Senator Shaheen. “There’s always more work to be done to address the substance use crisis and prevent more Granite Staters from dying of drug overdoses. As we continue advancing solutions that will save lives, it’s imperative that we keep spreading awareness about the very real dangers of the fentanyl crisis.”
“Too many families know the pain of losing a loved one to fentanyl,” Senator Grassley said. “Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day demonstrates Congress’ continuing resolve to keep this public health crisis on the nation’s radar and put an end to our nation's fentanyl epidemic, as well as underscore the importance of local awareness and prevention efforts.”
A copy of the bipartisan resolution can be found HERE.
Senator Shaheen has led efforts to address the substance use disorder epidemic in the Granite State. Last month, Shaheen reintroduced the bipartisan Cooper Davis and Devin Norring Act to require social media companies to work with federal agencies to combat the sale and distribution of illicit drugs on their platforms. Last month In April, Shaheen led the New Hampshire Congressional delegation in calling on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to immediately restore more than $80 million in federal funding cut from HHS that New Hampshire relies on to help communities address the substance use disorder and mental health crises. That same month, Shaheen held a roundtable at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Concord to highlight the consequences of these cuts. Shaheen also introduced the bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act with Senator Grassley earlier this year that would help prevent youth opioid use and overdoses by establishing a new grant program that allows current or former Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalitions to partner with schools to provide resources educating students about the dangers of synthetic opioids.
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