A senate RESOLUTION

 

to resolve for the continued examination and implementation of best practices toward recovery from the opioid crisis through strengthening the patient and health care provider relationship and making new potential treatments available upon FDA approval to South Carolinians.

 

Whereas, the opioid epidemic, also known as the opioid crisis, is a nationwide problem in the United States that involves the damaging widespread abuse of both prescription painkillers and illegal, black-market opioids; and

 

Whereas, opioids are a class of drug that not only include the illegal drug heroin, but also legal drugs prescribed for pain. These prescription drugs can help relieve severe pain but are highly addictive and oftentimes lead to those suffering from subsequent opioid use disorder to seek out less expensive, more readily available illegal drugs; and

 

Whereas, the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control reports that more than one hundred thousand lives were lost due to drug-involved overdoses in 2021, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids; and

 

Whereas, over sixteen thousand of those deaths, including one thousand seven hundred South Carolinian casualties, involved prescriptions opioids; and

 

Whereas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated prescribing guidelines in 2022 to emphasize the efficacy of nonopioid therapies for many common types of acute pain and to encourage their use in lieu of opioids; and

 

Whereas, all fifty states have opioid prescribing guidelines, but only sixteen states have statutory requirements mandating prescriber consideration of nonopioid alternatives; and

 

Whereas, South Carolina should continue to promote and encourage health care providers to inform patients of non-opioid alternatives, to discuss with patients the advantages and disadvantages of the use of nonopioid alternatives, including if a patient is at high risk of controlled substance abuse or misuse, and to provide the patient with educational information on nonopioid options; and

 

Whereas, the State of South Carolina should consider ways to enhance awareness of nonopioid treatment options, including nonopioid pharmacologic treatment options, through educational programs for primary care providers. The State should encourage collaboration and integration of care between all providers who collectively assist in treating pain.  Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the Senate:

 

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, resolve for the examination and implementation of best practices toward recovery from the opioid crisis through strengthening the patient and health care provider relationship and making new potential treatments available upon FDA approval to South Carolinians.

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