CHARLES PARKIN
City Attorney
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
411 W. Ocean Boulevard, 9th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 570-2200
Facsimile: (562) 436-1579
November 15, 2022
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
City of Long Beach
California
RECOMMENDATION:
R-36
GARY J. ANDERSON
Assistant City Attorney
DAWN A. MCINTOSH
Assistant City Attorney
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Long Beach Acknowledging Fentanyl and Opioid Overdoses as a Public Health Crisis.
DISCUSSION
Pursuant to your request of October 4, 2022, this office has prepared and submits the above described Resolution for your consideration.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Approve recommendation.
Very truly yours,
CHARLES PARKIN, City Attorney
By
Taylor M. Anderson
Deputy City Attorney
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
CHARLES PARKIN, City Attorney
411 W. Ocean Boulevard, 9th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LONG BEACH ACKNOWLEDGING FENTANYL
AND OPIOID OVERDOSES AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS
WHEREAS, since 1999, the United States has experienced an opioid overdose epidemic; and
WHEREAS, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), opioid overdose deaths quadrupled between 1999 and 2019; and WHEREAS, opioid overdose deaths were exacerbated by the COVID -19 pandemic, as the 12 -month period ending in May 2 020 saw the highest number of overdose deaths ever recorded in a year by the CDC, who suggest the pandemic accelerated overdose rates beyond expectation; and
WHEREAS, this is particularly concerning when considering the impact it has had on younger, more vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, in Los Angeles County, the crude rate of opioid -related death among people aged 15 -19 increased by 248.8% from the 2 nd quarter of 2019 to the 2nd quarter of 2020; and
WHEREAS, a major driver increasing overdose deaths has been the surge in the amount of fentanyl being consumed; and
WHEREAS, fentanyl is a synthetic drug similar to morphine that is 50 to 100 times more potent; and
WHEREAS, although fentanyl can be prescribed, it is also made and used illegally; fentanyl is often combined with other drugs and pressed into pills that resemble prescription opioids, contributing to its reputation as a "street drug" and increasing risk for consumers; and
WHEREAS, according to the CDC, synthetic opioids contributed to over 82%
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OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
CHARLES PARKIN, City Attorney
411 W. Ocean Boulevard, 9th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
of all opioid-related deaths in 2020. Fentanyl was also responsible for the seven overdoses and one death among Los Angeles Unified School District students in September of 2022; NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Long Beach resolves as follows:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Long Beach hereby acknowledges that fentanyl and opioid overdoses are a Public Health Crisis.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the City Clerk shall certify the vote adopting this resolution.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Long Beach at its meeting of , 2022, by the following vote:
Ayes: Councilmembers:
Noes: Councilmembers:
Absent: Councilmembers:
Recusal(s): Councilmembers:
City Clerk