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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION NO. 43
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBL Y
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENT A TIVE EAL Y .
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 suf fer 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
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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
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15 WHEREAS, despite significant investment of resources, addiction recovery ef forts
16 remain fragmented and do not keep pace with scientific advancements; and
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18 WHEREAS, the costs of these failures are devastating, not only in lives lost, but also
19 in the ripple ef fects 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:
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29 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOL VED 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:
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33 (1) Formally recognize addiction as a chronic disease;
34
35 (2) Advocate for a coordinated, statewide response;
36
37 (3) Ur ge 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 or ganizations, and health care providers to reaff irm the state's commitment to reducing
45 overdose deaths, improving recovery outcomes, and supporting individuals and families
46 af fected by substance use disorder; and
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48 BE IT FUR THER RESOL VED 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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HCR 43 2