SRES-476-119
Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S7851)
Sponsored by Pete Ricketts (R-NE)
What it does
This resolution expresses the Senate's support for designating October 2025 as "Substance Use & Misuse Prevention Month." It cites statistics on substance use, misuse, and treatment, and states Senate support for prevention programs and efforts to address drug addiction and overdoses. It does not create new programs, allocate funding, or change any law.
Who benefits
No group receives a direct legal or financial benefit, since the resolution creates no programs or funding. Public health organizations, addiction treatment and prevention advocacy groups, and awareness campaigns may benefit indirectly from increased visibility and political attention. Members of Congress may benefit from an opportunity to publicly signal concern about substance use issues.
Who is hurt
No group is materially or negatively affected, as the resolution imposes no obligations, restrictions, or costs on any individual, business, or government entity.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that raising public awareness about substance use disorders serves a valuable purpose given the scale of the problem, citing the resolution's own figures that an estimated 48 million people aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder in 2024. They contend that symbolic recognition can help destigmatize addiction, encourage people to seek treatment, and draw attention to existing prevention and treatment programs.
Opponents argue
Critics of commemorative resolutions generally argue that such measures consume floor time and committee attention without producing any concrete policy change, funding, or enforcement mechanism to address the underlying problem. They contend that symbolic gestures may create an appearance of action on addiction and overdose deaths while leaving the actual funding and regulatory decisions unaddressed.
Constitutional context
This resolution raises no constitutional question beyond Congress's general authority to adopt simple expressions of sentiment, which falls within each chamber's own procedural and expressive powers under Article I.
Checks and balances
This is a non-binding Senate resolution that carries no legal force, creates no executive authority, and requires no presidential signature, so it does not shift power between branches.
Historical precedent
Congress has regularly passed similar commemorative resolutions designating awareness months for public health issues, such as prior substance abuse and addiction recovery month resolutions.