SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 75
(By Senators Prezioso, Stollings, Jenkins, Laird, Browning,
Foster, Palumbo, Snyder, Unger, Yost and Guills)
[Originating in the Committee on Health and Human Resources]
Requesting the Joint Committee of Government and Finance study drug
diversion and unintentional pharmaceutical drug overdoses.
Whereas, There has been a marked increase nationwide in the
use and abuse of prescription narcotic drugs since 1990. The
effect of this pharmacoepidemic is most prominent in rural areas;
and
Whereas, West Virginia has, in fact, experienced the largest
increase in drug overdose mortality rates in the nation between the
years 1999 and 2004; and
Whereas, The majority of overdose deaths in West Virginia in
2006 were associated with nonmedical use and diversion of
prescription drugs, primarily prescription narcotic
pharmaceuticals; and
Whereas, Prescription drug diversion drains health insurers
nationally of up to $72.5 billion a year. These costs include
costs for insurance schemes and costs for treatment for abuse.
There are also considerable costs to the state; and
Whereas, There is a need for a process to study the causes of the use of fraudulent prescriptions and unintentional
pharmaceutical drug overdose fatalities that have occurred in West
Virginia; and
Whereas, It is the intent of the Legislature to obtain input
from government agencies, medical organizations and other entities
that it is determined would be beneficial to the discussions to the
study of fraudulent prescriptions and unintentional pharmaceutical
drug overdoses; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study drug diversion and unintentional pharmaceutical
drug overdoses; and, be it
Further Resolved, That in exploring solutions, the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance should consider the feasibility
of an official prescription program that could implement tamper
prescription pads, which are already required for use by Medicaid,
and the feasability of an Unintentional Pharmaceutical Drug
Overdose Fatality Review Team to review deaths caused by
prescription drugs; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2010, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.