HR0984 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0984 LRB098 20754 GRL 57797 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Laxative abuse occurs when a person attempts to get rid of unwanted calories, lose weight, "feel thin", or "feel empty" through the repeated, frequent use of laxatives; and

WHEREAS, The belief that laxatives are effective for weight control is a myth; and

WHEREAS, Often, laxatives are misused following eating binges, when the individual mistakenly believes that the laxatives will work to rush food and calories through the gut and bowels before they can be absorbed; and

WHEREAS, Laxative abuse is serious and dangerous - often resulting in a variety of health complications and sometimes causing life-threatening conditions; and

WHEREAS, According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 2.7% of American teens aged 13-18 suffer from a severe eating disorder; and

WHEREAS, Research shows that 10 to 60% of people with eating disorders also abuse laxatives; and

WHEREAS, According to a study done by the American Journal of Psychiatry, mortality rates for eating disorders were 4% for anorexia nervosa, 3.9% for bulimia nervosa, and 5.2% for eating disorders not otherwise specified; and

WHEREAS, Teens who are expected to achieve significantly low weights due to athletics have also been known to abuse laxatives in order to reduce the water weight in their body before performances and weigh-ins; and

WHEREAS, Laxatives as a drug have the properties of tolerance and withdrawal, allowing users to become dependent on them; and

WHEREAS, The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about the use of sodium phosphate laxatives; and

WHEREAS, Overcoming laxative abuse requires working with a team of health professionals who have expertise in treating eating disorders, including a general physician, a psychiatrist, psychologist or counselor, and a registered dietician; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that there is created the Task Force on Laxative Abuse within the Department of Human Services Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse to develop a statewide plan to prevent the abuse of laxatives, particularly among minors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of Task Force shall be appointed by the Secretary of Human Services no later than July 1, 2014; the Task Force shall include:

(1) the Director of the Department of Human Services Division of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse or his or her designee;

(2) the Director of the Department of Public Health or his or her designee;

(3) the Superintendent of the State Board of Education or his or her designee;

(4) two persons from families effected by eating disorders or laxative abuse;

(5) two persons who are recovering from an eating disorder or laxative abuse;

(6) two persons representing a national eating disorders association;

(7) two persons representing statewide associations representing nurses;

(8) two persons representing statewide education associations;

(9) one person representing a statewide organization representing pediatricians;

(10) one person representing a statewide organization representing family physicians;

(11) one person representing a statewide organization representing psychiatrists;

(12) one person representing a statewide association representing retailers; and

(13) one person representing a statewide association representing merchants; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Human Services shall facilitate the Task Force and provide the Task Force with administrative support; the Department shall convene the Task Force at least three times and issue a report with findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the Governor no later than January 1, 2015; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor and the Secretary of the Department of Human Services.