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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
PROPOSED RESOLUTION FOR TREATMENT NOT TRAUMA
WHEREAS, according to Websters Dictionary trauma can be the result of serious bodily injury or an abnormal psychological or behavioral response resulting from severe mental or emotional stress; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention maintain that the leading cause of injury related death in the United States is by drug overdose. The majority of overdose deaths involve opioids. Deaths involving synthetic opioids such as illicitly manufactured fentanyl and stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine, have increased in recent years. In addition, overdose deaths accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, more than one million people have died since 1999 from a drug overdose. In 2021, 106,699 involved drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States. Prescription and illegal opioids are the main driver of drug overdose deaths. Nearly 88% of opioid-involved overdose deaths involved synthetic opioids. Opioids were involved in 80,411 overdose deaths in 2021 which is 75.4% of all drug overdose deaths; and
WHEREAS there has been an increase in behavioral health and substance abuse deaths in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed 2,000 opioid overdose deaths for 2022, breaking the previous record of 1,935 set in 2021; and
WHEREAS, there were 103 overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl in Cook County in 2015. In 2020 that number increased to 1,533 and in 2022 a record 1,825 deaths were recorded, according to statistics from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office; and
WHEREAS, Fentanyl alone accounted for more than 90% of all opioid-related deaths in Cook County; and
WHEREAS, The American Journal of Public Health state that incarceration is one of the primary risk factors for opioid overdose, and within the first two weeks after release, opioid overdose is 40 times higher for those who are incarcerated compared to the general the population; and
WHEREAS, research has shown that trauma informed care is a pathway to address not only opioid deaths but reduce recidivism rates for those suffering from addiction after incarceration; and
WHEREAS, Cook County has created a special purpose fund for the use of settlement funds associated with the various opioid settlements and pursuant to such settlements, Cook County is required to use such funds in accordance with various approved abatement and remediation efforts provided in the settlement agreements; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Budget and Management Services in working with the President’s Office has developed the Opioid Settlement Fund Request Business Case application for various Cook County agencies to request funding from the special purpose fund that satisfy the requirements of the various settlement agreements; and
WHEREAS, the Opioid Settlement Fund Request Business Case application takes into consideration a number of factors including but not limited to the timeline for the use of the funds, abatement strategies, expected impact, success measures, approved use compliance and equitable recovery; and
WHEREAS, the Opioid Settlement Fund Request Business Care and use of the Opioid Settlement special purpose fund has a treatment over trauma approach.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Cook County through the Department of Budget and Management Services and President’s Office will continue to work in collaboration with Cook County Health, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office and other County agencies to identify funding opportunities that focus on trauma informed care; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Cook County Department of Budget and Management will provide a report to the Cook County Board on the programs identified in the FY 2024 proposed budget for use of the opioid settlement special purpose funds; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, to the extent possible, agencies should focus on (1) community-based coalitions to address trauma via stakeholder coordination and targeted local service delivery through the Cook County Health and Cook County Department of Public Health (2) work with marginalized populations to provide education on opioid addiction, issues and solutions (3) support programs that advance treatment initiatives for opioid overdose, and (4) and actively work towards reducing the number of casualties to substance abuse in Cook County.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Cook County will continue to encourage other local, State, and national entities to recognize the need for resources to end the opioid epidemic..
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