SENATE MEMORIAL 62

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

David Ulibarri

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY ILLICIT AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ADDICTION AMONG HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEASURES TO ADDRESS PATIENT SAFETY CONCERNS AND PROVIDER ILLICIT AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE AND ADDICTION.

     WHEREAS, drug and alcohol abuse is a serious problem in the United States, with over twenty-two million Americans having a substance dependence or abuse problem, according to the department of health and human services' substance abuse and mental health services administration; and

     WHEREAS, the United States department of health and human services' substance abuse and mental health services administration reports that approximately sixteen million four hundred thousand Americans are illicit drug users; and

     WHEREAS, the national institute on drug abuse reports that forty-eight million people have used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons in their lifetime, which is approximately twenty percent of the population of the United States; and

     WHEREAS, the journal Alcohol Health and Research World reports that nearly fourteen million Americans meet diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders; and

     WHEREAS, the United States department of health and human services' substance abuse and mental health services administration reports that the vast majority of illicit drug users, or fifteen million out of sixteen million four hundred thousand illicit drug users, hold full-time jobs; and 

     WHEREAS, the United States department of health and human services reports that nearly seventy-five percent of all adult illicit drug users are employed, as are most binge and heavy alcohol users; and 

     WHEREAS, the United States department of health and human services' national institute on drug abuse reports that employed drug abusers cost their employers about twice as much in medical and workers' compensation claims as their drug-free co-workers; and

     WHEREAS, health care is expected to generate three million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than in any other industry; and

     WHEREAS, according to the United States bureau of labor statistics, health care is the largest industry in the American economy; and

     WHEREAS, health care workers have a high incidence of occupational injury and illness and have physically demanding and mentally stressful jobs; and

     WHEREAS, the United States department of justice reports that health care workers are as likely as anyone else to abuse drugs; and

     WHEREAS, when health care providers are impaired by illicit or prescription drug or alcohol abuse on the job, patients may suffer adverse health outcomes due to medical errors and other results of impaired functioning;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to convene a health care provider illicit and prescription drug and alcohol abuse task force to study the problems faced by health care professionals and the cost of impairment to patients, colleagues and health care costs; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health meet with representatives from the New Mexico medical board; the board of nursing; the national union of hospital and health care employees; the American medical association; the personnel board; and specialists in identifying and treating illicit and prescription drug and alcohol abuse and addiction; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care provider illicit and prescription drug and alcohol abuse task force devise protocols regarding measures to protect patients from the consequences of impaired functioning in health professionals who abuse illicit and prescription drugs or alcohol on the job; the identification of illicit and prescription drug and alcohol abuse and addiction; offering treatment and drug and alcohol testing to health care professionals identified as facing abuse or addiction issues; any disciplinary measures that professional licensing boards may take to address on-the-job illicit and prescription drug or alcohol abuse; and any regulatory requirements that professional licensing boards may implement to ensure compliance with recommended protocols for drug and alcohol testing; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care provider illicit and prescription drug and alcohol abuse task force report its findings to the interim legislative health and human services committee by October 1, 2010; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the health care provider illicit and prescription drug and alcohol abuse task force publish its findings on the department of health's web site and in a written report for general distribution; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health; the president of the New Mexico medical board; the secretary of the board of nursing; the president of the national union of hospital and health care employees; and the president of the American medical association.

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