Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
                      HOUSE CONCURRENT
                       RESOLUTION NO. 43
                              103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
                               INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE EALY.
    7131H.01I                                                                JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk



           WHEREAS, the disease of addiction, also known as substance use disorder, is a crisis
 2 that touches families in every community and neighborhood in our nation; and
 3
 4         WHEREAS, 48.4 million Americans, or 16.8 percent of our nation's population,
 5 suffer from addiction; and
 6
 7         WHEREAS, addiction is a chronic, treatable disease with relapse rates similar to
 8 other chronic diseases, but very few Americans who need treatment ever receive it or believe
 9 they need it; and
10
11         WHEREAS, among the 40.7 million adults who had a substance use disorder in 2024
12 and did not receive substance use treatment, 95.6 percent, or 38.1 million people, did not
13 perceive that they needed treatment; and
14
15         WHEREAS, despite significant investment of resources, addiction recovery efforts
16 remain fragmented and do not keep pace with scientific advancements; and
17
18         WHEREAS, the costs of these failures are devastating, not only in lives lost, but also
19 in the ripple effects across our economy, workforce, and national strength; and
20
21         WHEREAS, addiction contributes to declining workforce participation, increased
22 health care costs, homelessness, family instability, and lost productivity that together cost the
23 United States hundreds of billions of dollars each year; and
24
25         WHEREAS, the framework for addiction treatment should parallel that of other
26 chronic diseases — utilizing evidence-based care, scientific advancement, continuous
27 support, and community connection:
HCR 43                                            2

28
29          NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of
30   Representatives of the One Hundred Third General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the
31   Senate concurring therein, hereby:
32
33          (1) Formally recognize addiction as a chronic disease;
34
35          (2) Advocate for a coordinated, statewide response;
36
37           (3) Urge existing Missouri state agencies, departments, and task forces that are
38   involved in the fields of health, mental health, substance use disorder treatment, housing,
39   education, workforce development, and criminal justice to continue and strengthen
40   interagency coordination, data sharing, and community partnerships to expand access to
41   prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm-reduction services; and
42
43           (4) Encourage collaboration with local governments, community- and faith-based
44   organizations, and health care providers to reaffirm the state's commitment to reducing
45   overdose deaths, improving recovery outcomes, and supporting individuals and families
46   affected by substance use disorder; and
47
48           BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of
49   Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the
50   director of each Missouri state agency.
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