RESOLUTION 2018-02 – MLDP Opiod Responsibility

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Related Area: | Drugs/Illegal Substances | | Public Safety |
Related Elkins Municipal Code (EMC):
Related Year:| 2018 |

Ordinance #: 2018-02

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE OPIOD EPIDEMIC IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND IN ARKANSAS; AND TO ENGAGE IN LITIGATION AS A MEMBER OF THE MUNICIPAL LEGAL DEFENSE PROGRAM (MLDP) AGAINST THOSE ENTITIES AND PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SOCIETAL CRISIS.

WHEREAS, our nation and the state of Arkansas have suffered substantially by virtue of the addiction and dependency on opiods, both legally prescribed and criminally secured; and,

WHEREAS, on October 26, 2017 the President of the United States of America declared the opiod crisis to be a “public health emergency” and;

WHEREAS, Arkansas’ hospitals and rehabilitation centeres cannot keep pace with the flood of victims; and,

WHEREAS, Arkansas has been ranked as the number two state in the nation in per capita prescriptions of opiod medications in 2016; and,

WHEREAS, in 2013 the cost of prescription opiod dependence, abuse and overdose was $78.5 billion dollars for the nation as a whole: and,

WHEREAS, in 2015 an estimated 12.131 billion dosage units (pills) were prescribed nationally equating to 97.36 pills per household; and,

WHEREAS, based upon the number of opioid prescription issued in 2016 it has been estimated that every man, woman, and child, regardless of age would have 37.5 pills in hand at any given time; and,

WHEREAS, drug overdose fatalities in 2016 across the nation numbered 64,000people while traffic fatalities for the same period number approximately, 40,200; and,

WHEREAS, municipal governments have born a substantial financial and societal burden fighting this crisis and epidemic and will face abatement costs for this nuisance for many years to come; and,

WHEREAS, Elkins is a member of the MLDP and seeks to make use of the legal services provided by the program to hold those responsible for this crisis to the highest letter of the law; and,

WHEREAS, the MLDP in concert with the other risk managment pools in Arkansas have combined resources to bring litigation against those responsible on behalf of all counties, cities, and towns in the state.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE (CITY/TOWN)

Elkins, Arkansas recognizes the acute need to address the opioid crisis in this state and wishes to do so by joining the efforts of other MLDP members to bring litigation against those responsible as advised by the MLDP.

Adopted this 18th day of January, 2018.

APPROVED: MAYOR Bruce Ledford

ATTEST: Delia Foster

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