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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 39
BY SENATOR HEITMEIER AND REPRESENTATIVES BARROW, COX, HAVARD,
HILL, KATRINA JACKSON, POPE, SIMON AND STOKES
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to study the most effective
means to ensure the proper utilization of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
medications in Louisiana and to report its findings to the Senate Committee on
Health and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and Welfare.
WHEREAS, the use of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
medications among Americans rose thirty-five point five percent from 2008 to 2012; and
WHEREAS, the number of young adults ages twenty-six to thirty-four taking
medications for ADHD has nearly doubled nationwide from three hundred forty thousand
in 2008 to six hundred forty thousand in 2012; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has the second highest proportion of residents in the country
on an ADHD medication at four point seven percent for the population as a whole; and
WHEREAS, thirteen point six percent of boys ages twelve to eighteen in Louisiana
are on an ADHD medication; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana has the highest number of older girls and young women on
ADHD treatments in the country, with seven point eight percent of girls ages twelve to
eighteen and eight percent of women ages nineteen to twenty-five on an ADHD medication;
and
WHEREAS, there are risks associated with the use of ADHD medications, including
addiction and adverse reactions in patients with cardiovascular disease or related conditions;
and
WHEREAS, ADHD medications may also increase risks of other psychiatric
conditions and can cause seizures if taken in high doses; and
WHEREAS, one in eight teenagers has misused or abused ADHD medications at
least once in his lifetime; and
WHEREAS, almost one in ten teenagers has misused or abused ADHD medications
in the past year; and SCR NO. 39 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana finds that ensuring the proper utilization
of ADHD medication is an important public health priority for the state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to study the most effective means
to ensure the proper utilization of ADHD medications in Louisiana and to report its findings
to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare and the House Committee on Health and
Welfare.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study, the department may
engage, collaborate with, and obtain information and perspective from stakeholder groups
with an interest in the proper utilization of ADHD medications.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study, the department shall
diligently respect, preserve, and protect the constitutional and legal privacy rights of all
individuals involved in the study and shall comply with all applicable privacy standards and
restrictions including but not limited to Article I, Section 5 of the Louisiana Constitution of
1974; La. R.S. 46:56; the federal Medicaid privacy regulations, 42 C.F.R. ยง431.300 et seq.;
and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, 45
C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department shall provide the findings of this
study in the form of a report to the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare and the House
Committee on Health and Welfare on or before February 1, 2015.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES