ENROLLED
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 99
BY REPRESENTATIVE HARRISON
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to study the problem
of over-prescribing of pain medication by physicians and to report findings and
recommendations to the legislative committees on health and welfare.
WHEREAS, over-prescribing of pain medication has emerged as a major public
health concern in this state and nationally; and
WHEREAS, a dramatic increase in prescriptions for opioid pain medications has
occurred over the past decade as physicians generally have become less restrained in
prescribing these drugs; and
WHEREAS, while the majority of patients to whom pain medications are prescribed
use these drugs safely and with no intention of abusing the drugs, an ever-growing number
of patients are becoming addicted to these medications; and
WHEREAS, the consequences of addiction are terrible and often tragic for
individuals and families; and
WHEREAS, similarly, in terms of population health and costs to the public, the
prevalence of prescription drug abuse presents real burdens and avoidable costs in areas such
as law enforcement, criminal justice, and health care; and
WHEREAS, because of its unique qualifications as the regulatory body for the
practice of medicine in this state, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners is the
proper authority to which the legislature should turn for guidance concerning over-
prescribing of pain medication by physicians.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners to study the problem of
over-prescribing of pain medication by physicians. ENROLLEDHCR NO. 99
Page 2 of 2
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study, the Louisiana State
Board of Medical Examiners shall engage and solicit input from the Louisiana Board of
Pharmacy on matters related to monitoring of controlled substances and drugs of concern
prescribed and dispensed in this state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners
shall provide findings of the study in the form of a written report to the House Committee
on Health and Welfare and the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare no later than sixty
days prior to the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
executive director of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE