SR0088 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0088 LRB101 10622 ALS 55728 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State has a considerable moral, public health, and financial interest in reducing opioid addiction in the State; and

WHEREAS, It is medically documented that opioid prescription drugs are addictive and that opioid addictions are harmful and expensive to address; and

WHEREAS, Opioid prescription drug addiction interferes with an addict's ability to work and to provide for a stable and healthy family; the State's opioid epidemic damages the health of families and children and affects the chances that a child will receive a healthy upbringing; the opioid epidemic increases crime in the State and costs the State and other entities excessive amounts of money, which is especially problematic in lean budget times; and

WHEREAS, Recent analysis by the CDC illustrates a linear association between the duration of an initial prescription and the likelihood of developing long-term opioid use; in addition, many patients who receive a prescription for opioids do not use all the medications, resulting in leftover pills that increase the risk of misuse and abuse; these factors support the need for robust safety measures around prescribing opioids for acute, painful conditions; and

WHEREAS, Patients are not always advised of the addictive effects of opioid prescription drug use; most compelling is the 2017 analysis released by the CDC that demonstrated "the likelihood of chronic opioid use increased with each additional day of medication supplied starting with the third day"; among those receiving an initial 30-day prescription, more than 30 percent remained on opioids a year later; and

WHEREAS, In general, opioids should not be considered first line therapy for patients with mild to moderate pain and with limited past exposure to opioids; guidelines emphasize that clinicians should first prescribe non-opioid medication for acute pain and then, if needed, prescribe opioids in small quantities with duration typically limited to less than a week; and

WHEREAS, Requiring medical providers to inform patients of the risks associated with opioid prescription drug use can help to reduce opioid prescription drug addictions in the State; policies that reduce the number of people who become addicted to opioids will better serve citizens of the State and foster healthier families; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois Department of Public Health to adopt new guidelines for the prescription of opioid prescription drugs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Illinois Department of Public Health.