Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim April 29, 2026, as Fentanyl Awareness Day in the State of New York

Assembly Resolution No. 1233

BY: M. of A. Lunsford

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        April 29, 2026, as Fentanyl  Awareness  Day  in  the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this Legislative Body to recognize
official days set aside to increase awareness of serious  health  issues
which affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  April  29,  2026, as
Fentanyl Awareness Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Fentanyl Awareness Day; and

  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body would like to  take  this  moment  to
remember  all those who lost the battle to fentanyl, such as 19-year-old
Paige Gibbons of Pittsford, New York, and  those  who  are  courageously
battling substance abuse disorder; and

  WHEREAS,  Fentanyl overdose is a national public health crisis; each
and every day, people of all genders,  races,  ages,  and  socioeconomic
status  are  dying  at  alarming rates due to illegally made fentanyl, a
dangerous synthetic opioid; and

  WHEREAS, Fentanyl is cheap, potent, and profitable,  and  therefore,
continues  to  be  found  in  a wide variety of drugs, including heroin,
cocaine, methamphetamine, and  illicitly  manufactured  pills,  some  of
which  are  meant to mimic benzodiazepines, Molly/MDMA, and prescription
pain killers; and

  WHEREAS, Fentanyl is involved in more  American  youth  drug  deaths
than heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and prescription
drugs combined; and

  WHEREAS,  Fentanyl  is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50
than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and  all
other accidents; and

  WHEREAS,  Criminal  drug  networks are mass-producing fentanyl pills
and falsely labeling and marketing them as legitimate prescription pills
to deceive  the  American  public,  and  40%  of  those  seized  by  law
enforcement contain a potentially lethal amount of fentanyl; and

  WHEREAS,  These  fentanyl  pills  falsely  labeled  and  marketed as
legitimate prescription pills have been  found  in  all  50  states  and
individuals   should   assume   any   prescription  medicine,  including
Oxycodone, Percocet, and Xanax, found online is fake; and

  WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness  of
this  serious  epidemic,  and more must be done to increase activity and
knowledge at the local, state, and national levels to  educate,  support
and  protect  those  afflicted as well as their families and caregivers;
now, therefore, be it


  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  April  29,  2026,  as
Fentanyl Awareness Day in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York.