2023 -- S 0950
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LC001972
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING MAY 1ST THROUGH MAY 7TH OF 2023, TO BE "TARDIVE
DYSKINESIA (TD) AWARENESS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Introduced By: Senator Joshua Miller
Date Introduced: April 27, 2023
Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar
WHEREAS, Many people with serious, chronic mental illness, such as schizophrenia, 1
bipolar disorder, severe depression, or gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroparesis, nausea, 2
and vomiting require treatment with medications that work as dopamine receptor blocking agents 3
(DRBAs), including antipsychotics; and 4
WHEREAS, While ongoing treatment with these medications can be very helpful, and 5
even lifesaving, for many people, it can also lead to Tardive Dyskinesia (TD); and 6
WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia is a movement disorder that is characterized by random, 7
involuntary, and uncontrolled movements of different muscles in the face, trunk and/or 8
extremities that can vary in frequency and amplitude; and 9
WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia can develop months, years, or decades after a person 10
starts taking DRBAs and even after they have discontinued use of those medications. Not 11
everyone who takes a DRBA develops TD, but if it develops it is often permanent; and 12
WHEREAS, It is estimated that over 600,000 Americans suffer from Tardive Dyskinesia. 13
According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, one in every four patients receiving long-14
term treatment with an antipsychotic medication will experience Tardive Dyskinesia; and 15
WHEREAS, Years of difficult and challenging research have resulted in recent scientific 16
breakthroughs, with new treatments including VMAT inhibitors for Tardive Dyskinesia approved 17
by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and 18
WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia is often unrecognized and patients suffering from the 19
LC001972 - Page 2 of 2
illness are commonly misdiagnosed. Regular screening for TD in patients taking DRBA 1
medications is recommended by the American Psychiatric Association (APA); now, therefore be 2
it 3
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims May 1st 4
through May 7th to be "Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) Awareness Week" in the State of Rhode Island; 5
and be it further 6
RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby encourages the medical community and all 7
individuals in the United States and Rhode Island to become better informed about and aware of 8
Tardive Dyskinesia; and be it further 9
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 10
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Ms. Karla M. Kiriako, Director, State 11
Government Affairs-East, Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., and Ellen Brown, Policy Analyst, BGR 12
Government Affairs, LLC. 13
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LC001972
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