94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB1436


 
Introduced 2/18/2005, by Sen. Susan Garrett
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













New Act










    Creates the Ipecac Retail Sale Control Act.  Requires a retailer that sells or offers for sale ipecac in his or her store to display the ipecac behind the store counter, in an area not accessible to customers, or in a locked case so that a customer wanting access to the ipecac must ask a store employee for assistance.  Prohibits a retailer from selling ipecac to any person under the age of 18.  Provides certain penalties for a violation of the Act.
















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CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY


FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











SB1436

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    AN ACT concerning health.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:


 
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    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Ipecac 
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Retail Sale Control Act.
 
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    Section 5. Legislative findings and purpose. 

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    (a) Ipecac is a plant extract from the ipecacuanha scrub 
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found in Brazil that when ingested, stimulates the central 
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nervous system and the stomach, causing a person to vomit.
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    (b) Ipecac's sole purpose is to facilitate vomiting in an 
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individual who has ingested poison or overdosed on medication.
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    (c) For decades, pediatricians have advised new parents to 
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keep ipecac on hand to induce vomiting in cases of accidental 
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poisoning.  But its use has dropped dramatically in the last 15 
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years as toxicologists have found that it is rarely helpful.  At 
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the same time, there is growing concern about its abuse by 
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bulimics and others with mental disorders.
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    (d) The misuse of ipecac can cause significant and severe 
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medical complications and even result in death.  Complications 
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of the misuse of ipecac include, but are not limited to, 
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cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmias, irreversible damage to 
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the muscles of the heart, seizures, shock, hemorrhaging, 
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blackouts, high blood pressure, respiratory complications, 
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dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, and death.
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    (e) A federal advisory panel has recommended taking ipecac 
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off the list of approved over-the-counter medicines, and the 
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American Association of Poison Control Centers and the American 
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Academy of Pediatrics are expected to come out soon with new 
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position statements and guidelines.
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    (f) The purpose of this Act is to reduce the harm that 
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ipecac abuse is inflicting on individuals, families, and 
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communities in Illinois by making it more difficult for a 
 


 






SB1436
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person to purchase ipecac and banning the sale of ipecac to 
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minors.
 
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    Section 10. Definitions.   In this Act:
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    "Customer" means a person who buys goods from a retailer.
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    "Ipecac" means a plant extract from the ipecacuanha scrub 
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used to evoke vomiting, especially in cases of drug overdose or 
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poisoning.
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    "Retailer" means a person who sells, or offers for sale, 
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ipecac to a customer in this State.
 
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    Section 15. Display and sale of ipecac. 
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(a) A retailer that sells or offers for sale ipecac in his 
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or her store shall display the ipecac behind the store counter, 
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in an area not accessible to customers, or in a locked case so 
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that a customer wanting access to the ipecac must ask a store 
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employee for assistance.
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    (b) A retailer shall not sell ipecac to any person under 
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the age of 18.
 
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    Section 20. Penalties. 

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    (a) A retailer who violates this Act is guilty of a Class A 
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misdemeanor.
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    (b) For a subsequent violation of this Act, a person is 
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guilty of a Class 3 felony.