House Resolution 125 - Introduced

PAG LIN

                                    H.R. ________ S.R. ________


  1  1                HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.    
  1  2                        BY  FORD
  1  3 A Resolution requesting the legislative council to
  1  4    authorize a study committee for the 2008 interim
  1  5    to review the use of pyschostimulant medications
  1  6    for treating attention=deficit hyperactivity
  1  7    disorder (ADHD) in children.
  1  8    WHEREAS, ADHD is a chronic disorder afflicting
  1  9 children with problems of inattention, hyperactivity,
  1 10 and impulsive behavior; and
  1 11    WHEREAS, children with ADHD often struggle with low
  1 12 self=esteem, troubled personal relationships, and poor
  1 13 performance in school or at work; and
  1 14    WHEREAS, psychostimulant medications are often
  1 15 prescribed for treatment of children with ADHD and
  1 16 include methylphenidate (brand names ritalin and
  1 17 concerta), dextroamphetamine/amphetamine (brand name
  1 18 adderall), and dextroamphetamine (brand name
  1 19 dexedrine); and
  1 20    WHEREAS, the most common side effects from using
  1 21 psychostimulant medications include decreased
  1 22 appetite, corresponding weight loss, nervousness, and
  1 23 problems sleeping, and some children experience
  1 24 irritability and increased activity; and
  1 25    WHEREAS, some parents and advocates for children
  1 26 have raised concerns that psychostimulant medications
  1 27 may be overused and some parents have been pressured
  1 28 to seek such a prescription for their child by adults
  1 29 who deal with that child; and
  1 30    WHEREAS, psychostimulants may cause feelings in
  2  1 users similar to that of amphetamines and cocaine and
  2  2 could lead to addiction to those drugs later in life,
  2  3 and there may be permanent brain changes caused by the
  2  4 long=term use of psychostimulants that are similar to
  2  5 the changes caused by the long=term use of illegal
  2  6 stimulants; NOW THEREFORE,
  2  7    BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
  2  8 That the legislative council is requested to authorize
  2  9 a study committee for the 2008 interim to review the
  2 10 use of pyschostimulant medications for treating ADHD
  2 11 in children and to identify the extent of the usage of
  2 12 the medication among children in Iowa and the
  2 13 relationship between that use and diagnoses of ADHD.
  2 14 LSB 6358YH 82
  2 15 jp/nh/8