00SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 21                                                                                   
01 Relating to declaring March 1998 as Sobriety Awareness Month.                                                           
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                              
03  WHEREAS it is the policy of the State of Alaska, under AS 47.37.010, "to recognize,                                  
04 appreciate, and reinforce the example set by its citizens who lead, believe in, and support a                           
05 life of sobriety"; and                                                                                                  
06  WHEREAS sobriety has been defined to mean "a positive, healthy, and productive                                       
07 way of life, free from the devastating effects of alcohol and drugs" by more than 50 profit and                         
08 nonprofit organizations, community groups, and student governments throughout the state; and                            
09  WHEREAS these organizations, community groups, and student governments                                               
10 constitute what is commonly referred to as a growing "sobriety movement"; and                                           
11  WHEREAS the "sobriety movement" is interpreted as "The collective effort on the                                      
12 part of individuals, families and communities, and public and private agencies, affected by,                            
13 concerned with, and working toward the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse, who by                                     
14 example encourage and support others in leading a life of sobriety"; and                                                

01  WHEREAS the benefits of leading a life of sobriety to Alaska's citizens are threefold:                               
02   (1)  improvement in the quality of life and health of individuals, families, and                                      
03 communities;                                                                                                            
04   (2)  reduction in the incidence of alcohol and drug related crimes;                                                   
05   (3)  reduction in the burden on government by not having to exhaust its                                               
06 resources to pay for the pervasive problems caused by alcohol and drug abuse; and                                       
07  WHEREAS March has been designated "Sobriety Awareness Month" by the Alaska                                           
08 State Legislature and Governor Knowles every year since 1995 to recognize, appreciate, and                              
09 reinforce the example set by citizens who lead, believe in, and support a life of sobriety;                             
10  BE IT RESOLVED that the month of March 1998 should be proclaimed as Sobriety                                         
11 Awareness Month; and be it                                                                                              
12  FURTHER RESOLVED that Governor Tony Knowles is requested to proclaim the                                             
13 same and have copies of the proclamation sent to all the respective departments and                                     
14 departmental agencies within the administration that fund or have contact with youth, schools,                          
15 family services, or provide rehabilitation or correctional services; and be it                                          
16  FURTHER RESOLVED that all Alaska citizens who lead, believe in, or support a                                         
17 life of sobriety are urged to indicate so by wearing a white ribbon of their choosing so that                           
18 they may be readily recognized and appreciated during Sobriety Awareness Month 1998.