HR1106 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1106 LRB098 20725 GRL 57659 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Chronic pain can be a debilitating, complex human condition stemming from any number of medical conditions or injuries which threatens the quality of life for millions of Americans; and

WHEREAS, A significant portion of those suffering with chronic pain must rely on the use of stronger prescription medications; and

WHEREAS, An estimated $323 billion per year is spent on prescription drugs used to treat chronic pain; and

WHEREAS, Prescription drugs used to treat pain, which are predominately derived from opiates, are extremely addictive and have created a national addiction epidemic; and

WHEREAS, The number of unintentional medication overdose deaths from opioid analgesics was higher than that of cocaine and heroin combined; and

WHEREAS, Pill mills, physician shopping, medication diversion, and other abuses have unfortunately helped create an illegal black market for prescription drugs; and

WHEREAS, Recent studies have proven that patients that are being treated for chronic pain who regularly receive a toxicology screening are much more compliant with their prescriptions, which reduces the chance for overdose, saves the healthcare system money, and decreases the chances that prescription drugs will end up being sold illegally on the black market; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, the State of Georgia mandated physicians that treat chronic pain have a toxicology screening performed every 3 months on their patients; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois Department of Public Health to conduct a study on mandated random toxicology screening by physicians treating chronic pain and make specific determinations on the effectiveness of such policy to reduce overdoses, combat illegal prescription drug sales, and increase cost effectiveness in the healthcare system; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Department of Public Health to submit its findings to the House of Representatives as soon as possible after the conclusion of the study.