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WHEREAS, Ron Johnson has served the greater Pittsburgh area for over three decades as a leader in drug and alcohol recovery services, and has been a case manager for Prevention Point Pittsburgh since 2005; and
WHEREAS, Prevention Point Pittsburgh is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing health empowerment services to injection drug users, and is the only organization in Pittsburgh that provides syringe exchange services; and
WHEREAS, syringe exchange programs are a crucial element of an effective approach to limiting the harm that addiction brings to an area, as syringe exchanges work to prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C, that can be contracted through contaminated needles; and
WHEREAS, as a case manager for Prevention Point Pittsburgh, Ron serves as a representative of Prevention Point for people in the area facing addiction and is often tasked with handing out clean syringes to those that need them; and
WHEREAS, bolstering his ability to provide these services, Ron has been a champion of harm reduction philosophies and practices that emphasize the need to meet people that are facing addiction wherever they may be, without judgement or stigma; and
WHEREAS, in addition to providing clean syringes, Ron is an expert in navigating systems of care and coordinating resources, and has helped in getting an estimated 1,600 people treatment for substance abuse problems over the last decade; and
WHEREAS, through his work, Ron strives to ensure that all people have the opportunity to live healthy and fulfilling lives, a mission he carries into his personal life as a great friend, family member and mentor for those around him; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh recognizes both the lifesaving work that Ron and other staff of Prevention Point Pittsburgh have been able to provide for the greater Pittsburgh area, and the importance of continuation of these crucial public health services; and
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, ...
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