HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

172

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

DESIGNATING THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY AS TARDIVE DYSKINESIA AWARENESS WEEK.

 


     WHEREAS, many people with serious, chronic mental illness, such as schizophrenia and other schizoaffective disorders, bipolar disorder, or severe depression, require treatment with medications that work as dopamine receptor blocking agents, including antipsychotics; and

 

     WHEREAS, while ongoing treatment with these medications can be very helpful, and even lifesaving, for many people, it can also lead to tardive dyskinesia; and

 

     WHEREAS, many people who have gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroparesis or gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, and vomiting also require treatment with dopamine receptor blocking agents; and

 

     WHEREAS, treatment of gastrointestinal disorders with dopamine receptor blocking agents can be very helpful, but for many patients can lead to tardive dyskinesia; and

 

     WHEREAS, tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder that is characterized by random involuntary and uncontrolled movements of different muscles in the face, trunk, and extremities.  Some people may experience movement of the arms, legs, fingers, and toes. In some cases, it may affect the tongue, lips, and jaw.  Symptoms may also include swaying movements of the trunk or hips and may impact the muscles associated with walking, speech, eating, and breathing; and

 

     WHEREAS, tardive dyskinesia can develop months, years, or decades after a person starts taking dopamine receptor blocking agents and can even develop after they have discontinued use of those medications.  Not everyone who takes a dopamine receptor blocking agent develops tardive dyskinesia, but if it does develop it is often permanent; and

 

     WHEREAS, common risk factors for tardive dyskinesia include advanced age and alcoholism or other substance abuse disorders.  Postmenopausal women and people with mood disorders are also at higher risk of developing tardive dyskinesia; and

 

     WHEREAS, a person is at higher risk for tardive dyskinesia after taking dopamine receptor blocking agents for three months or longer, but the longer the person is on these medications, the higher the risk of developing tardive dyskinesia; and

 

     WHEREAS, studies suggest that overall risk of developing tardive dyskinesia is between ten and thirty percent; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is estimated that over 500,000 Americans suffer from tardive dyskinesia.  According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness one in every four patients receiving long-term treatment with an antipsychotic medication will experience tardive dyskinesia; and

 

     WHEREAS, years of difficult and challenging research have resulted in recent scientific breakthroughs with two new treatments for tardive dyskinesia approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and,

 

     WHEREAS, last year, twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia issued legislative resolutions and Governors’ proclamations declaring the first full week of May as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. Hawaii is encouraged to advocacy groups such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health America, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the American Academy of Neurology, and the American Psychiatric Association in support of the mental health community; and therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, the Senate concurring, that the week of May 3, 2020 be designated as "Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week"; and,

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this designation will encourage the Department of Education, the Department of Health, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services to increase public awareness so each individual in the United States becomes better informed and aware of tardive dyskinesia; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of

the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Education, the

Director of Health, and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

Report Title: 

Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week