Title
Authorizing The Special Committee on Kensington to convene and explore best practices in substance use disorder outreach and to investigate the effectiveness of current methods used by the City of Philadelphia and its partners.
Body
WHEREAS, Kensington, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, has transformed into a hub for illicit drug activities; and
WHEREAS, According to the Philadelphia Department of Health's 2022 report, there were 1,413 unintentional drug-related deaths in the City, with the majority occurring in the Kensington area. Consequently, it is of utmost importance to locate and offer services to substance use disorder (SUD) individuals; and
WHEREAS, In light of the alarming rise in fentanyl and xylazine use, it is imperative to allocate resources and support outreach initiatives that can offer low-threshold care to individuals at risk; and
WHEREAS, The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy encourages state, county, and City health authorities to proactively seek out those believed to be consuming fentanyl adulterated with xylazine before their conditions worsen and become more difficult to address; and
WHEREAS, The implementation of evidence-based outreach practices, warm handoffs, wound care, a dedicated mobile team, using proper terms to reduce negative bias when discussing addiction, and medication-assisted treatment all through a central hub that connects SUD outreach teams will significantly enhance the coordination of efforts in covering the Kensington area; and
WHEREAS, A study by a team of University of Pennsylvania physicians along with the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services has shown the use of warm handoffs results in better outcomes for SUD patients that are admitted to an emergency room transitioning to longer treatment facilities; and
WHEREAS, The need for a medication-assisted holding zone for SUD individuals is crucial in stabilizing a patient until they can be transported t...
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