SCR 22: Relating to declaring March 2002 as Sobriety Awareness Month.
00 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22 01 Relating to declaring March 2002 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; 09 and 10 WHEREAS these organizations, community groups, and student governments 11 constitute what is commonly referred to as a growing "sobriety movement"; and 12 WHEREAS the "sobriety movement" is interpreted as "[t]he collective effort on the 13 part of individuals, families and communities, and public and private agencies, affected by, 14 concerned with, and working toward the prevention of alcohol and drug abuse, who by 15 example encourage and support others in leading a life of sobriety"; and 16 WHEREAS the practice and benefits of leading a life of sobriety to Alaska's citizens
01 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 2002 should be proclaimed as Sobriety 11 Awareness Month; and be it 12 FURTHER RESOLVED that Governor Tony Knowles proclaim the same and have 13 copies of the proclamation sent to all the respective departments and departmental agencies 14 within the administration that fund or have contact with youth, schools, family services, or 15 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 indicate so by wearing a white ribbon of their choosing so that they may be 18 readily recognized and appreciated during Sobriety Awareness Month 2002.