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.

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. 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 ar…