HR0663 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0663 LRB094 14802 DRJ 49790 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, According to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 12.3 million Americans age 12 and older (5.2 percent of the population) had tried methamphetamine ("meth") at least once in their lifetime, with the majority of past-year users being between 18 and 34 years of age; and

WHEREAS, By altering the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, methamphetamine causes feelings of pleasure and euphoria; methamphetamine is a neurotoxin and potent stimulant, which can also cause cerebral edema and hemorrhage, paranoia, and hallucinations; short-term effects include insomnia, hyperactivity, decreased appetite, increased respiration, and tremors; long-term effects can include psychological addiction, stroke, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, paranoia, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, and delusions; methamphetamine use can eventually cause depletion of monoamines in the brain, which can have an effect on learning; and

WHEREAS, With high doses there may be an increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure due to cardiac stimulation; in addition, methamphetamine may produce arrhythmias; other systemic effects include shortness of breath, hyperthermia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; and

WHEREAS, Crystal meth is a highly and quickly addictive, illegal street drug, ranking with crack cocaine in popularity; it causes a reduction in saliva; "meth heads" tend to drink a lot of soda, both to relieve the dryness in the mouth and to add to the "high"; their oral hygiene is generally poor; food and good nutrition become secondary to a new supply of meth; meth is said to reduce blood supply to the gingiva, causing periodontal problems; and

WHEREAS, Dental health care professionals should be aware that methamphetamine use is on the rise in the U.S.; the allure of this drug is that it is cheap, it is easy to make, and the "high" lasts much longer than crack cocaine (12 hours versus one hour for cocaine); as well as being a potent central nervous system stimulant that can cause permanent brain damage, methamphetamine's oral health effects are substantial, as users often crave high-calorie, carbonated, sugary beverages, or they may grind or clench their teeth; and

WHEREAS, The oral health effects of methamphetamine use can be devastating; reports have described rampant caries that resembles early childhood caries and is being referred to as "meth mouth"; a distinctive caries pattern can often be seen on the buccal smooth surface of the teeth and the interproximal surfaces of the anterior teeth; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Department of Public Health to develop guidelines, for distribution to health care professionals, that identify symptoms of "meth mouth" in patients that include the following:

(1) unaccounted-for and accelerated tooth decay in teenagers and young adults;

(2) distinctive patterns of decay on the buccal smooth surface of the teeth and the interproximal surfaces of the anterior teeth; and

(3) malnourished appearance in heavy users, because methamphetamine acts as an appetite suppressant; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be delivered to the Director of Public Health.