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WHEREAS; in 2019, The U.S. had 70,980 overdose deaths representing a more than 400% increase since 1999, and,
WHEREAS; in 2019, Allegheny County reported 570 overdose deaths representing a more than 400% increase since 1998, and,
WHEREAS; the roots of the moralization and stigmatization of individuals suffering from a substance use disorder in America can be traced to the Puritans, and,
WHEREAS; moralization is the process of converting a preference into a value which can contain both positive and negative valences, and,
WHEREAS; the moralization of substance use disorder in the United States has historically taken a negative valence and led to the stigmatization of persons who use drugs, especially if a recurrence of use occurs following a period of recovery, occurs in a person experiencing homelessness, a person with justice-involvement, and more, and,
WHEREAS; the now dominant approach to treating a person with substance use disorder is through a disease model which views addiction as a severe, chronic stage of substance-use disorder, in which there is a substantial loss of self-control, as indicated by compulsive drug taking despite the desire to stop taking the drug, and,
WHEREAS; substance use disorder as seen through the disease model understands that substance use is a chronic, recurring brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences, and,
WHEREAS; stigmatization and moralization of persons who use drugs creates barriers to treatment, care, and harm reduction generally, and,
WHEREAS; our use of language is the fundamental way humans make sense of the world around them and understand the scope of potential action in the world, and,
WHEREAS; the use of positive, person-first language can reduce the stigma surrounding substance use and create a positive valence towards the moralization of individuals suffering from substance use disorder,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, The Cou...
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