HR1106LRB098 20725 GRL 57659 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Chronic pain can be a debilitating, complex human 
3condition stemming from any number of medical conditions or 
4injuries which threatens the quality of life for millions of 
5Americans; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, A significant portion of those suffering with 
7chronic pain must rely on the use of stronger prescription 
8medications; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, An estimated $323 billion per year is spent on 
10prescription drugs used to treat chronic pain; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Prescription drugs used to treat pain, which are 
12predominately derived from opiates, are extremely addictive 
13and have created a national addiction epidemic; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, The number of unintentional medication overdose 
15deaths from opioid analgesics was higher than that of cocaine 
16and heroin combined; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, Pill mills, physician shopping, medication 
18diversion, and other abuses have unfortunately helped create an 
19illegal black market for prescription drugs; and
  
 
 
 
HR1106- 2 -LRB098 20725 GRL 57659 r

1    WHEREAS, Recent studies have proven that patients that are 
2being treated for chronic pain who regularly receive a 
3toxicology screening are much more compliant with their 
4prescriptions, which reduces the chance for overdose, saves the 
5healthcare system money, and decreases the chances that 
6prescription drugs will end up being sold illegally on the 
7black market; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, In 2012, the State of Georgia mandated physicians 
9that treat chronic pain have a toxicology screening performed 
10every 3 months on their patients; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
12NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
13we urge the Illinois Department of Public Health to conduct a 
14study on mandated random toxicology screening by physicians 
15treating chronic pain and make specific determinations on the 
16effectiveness of such policy to reduce overdoses, combat 
17illegal prescription drug sales, and increase cost 
18effectiveness in the healthcare system; and be it further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Public 
20Health to submit its findings to the House of Representatives 
21as soon as possible after the conclusion of the study.