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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The prescription of psychotropic drugs to treat
3 psychiatric disorders has greatly increased in recent years;
4 and
 
5     WHEREAS, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has, since
6 2004, required manufacturers of selective serotonin reuptake
7 inhibitor antidepressant medications (SSRIs) to add black box
8 warnings to their product labeling, advising that studies have
9 shown an increase in suicidal thinking and behavior among
10 children and adolescents suffering from psychiatric disorders;
11 and
 
12     WHEREAS, Health authorities in Canada, the European Union,
13 Australia, and Great Britain have issued warnings regarding the
14 increased risk of self-harm or harm to others associated with
15 SSRIs; and
 
16     WHEREAS, In recent years there have been numerous
17 documented instances of suicides and acts of violence against
18 others by persons reported to have been taking antidepressants
19 and/or other psychotropic medications; therefore, be it
 
20     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
21 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

 

 

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1 the Psychotropic Substances Suicide Risk Task Force be created
2 within the Department of Public Health to (1) study and report
3 upon the available research relevant to the reputed causal link
4 between prescription of psychotropic substances and acts of
5 suicide or violence against others; (2) to evaluate whether the
6 State of Illinois' current policies with regard to psychotropic
7 substances are adequate to protect the public; and (3) to make
8 recommendations as to whether Illinois should consider
9 adopting additional policies with regard to psychotropic
10 substances, including but not limited to requiring county
11 coroners to test for psychotropic substances in cases of
12 suspected suicide; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall consist of the
14 following members: 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the
15 House of Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed
16 co-chairperson, and 3 members appointed by the Minority Leader
17 of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be appointed
18 co-chairperson; and 2 members appointed by the Director of the
19 Department of Public Health; and be it further
 
20     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall take voluntary
21 assistance and testimony from individuals and/or professional
22 organizations and institutions; and be it further
 
23     RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve

 

 

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1 without compensation, but may be reimbursed for actual expenses
2 while serving on the Task Force from funds appropriated to the
3 Department of Public Health for that purpose; and be it further
4     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall submit its final report
5 to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than December
6 31, 2010.