1Establishing the task force on <-opiate opioid prescription drug
2proliferation and its impact on heroin use in this
3Commonwealth; and creating an advisory committee.

4WHEREAS, The United States makes up 4.5% of the world's
5population; and

6WHEREAS, The United States consumes 80% of the <-opiate opioid
7prescription drugs; and

8WHEREAS, The human suffering associated with addiction for
9affected families has now reached epidemic proportions; and

10WHEREAS, Criminal court dockets are crowded with people who
11are living with an addiction to prescription drugs; and

12WHEREAS, The death toll is surging from <-opiate opioid
13prescription drug overdoses; and

14WHEREAS, Those who become addicted to prescription drugs,
15left untreated, tend to shift to abusing heroin, and this has
16resulted in a huge increase in heroin use across this

1Commonwealth; and

2WHEREAS, The proliferation of <-opiate opioid prescription drug
3abuse has become a crisis; therefore be it

4RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
5State Government Commission to establish a task force on <-opiate 
<-6opioid prescription drug proliferation; and be it further

7RESOLVED, That the task force consist of four members
8appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two
9appointed in consultation with the Majority Leader and two
10appointed in consultation with the Minority Leader; and be it
11further 

12RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission create
13an advisory committee, including, but not limited to, the
14following individuals:

15(1) A representative recommended by the Department of
16Drug and Alcohol Programs.

17(2) A representative recommended by the Department of
18Public Welfare.

19(3) A representative recommended by the Insurance
20Department.

21(4) A physician recommended by the Department of Health.

22(5) A representative recommended by the State Board of
23Pharmacy.

24(6) A representative recommended by the Attorney
25General.

26(7) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
27Fraternal Order of Police.

28(8) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
29Athletic Oversight Committee.

30(9) Two physicians recommended by the Pennsylvania

1Medical Society, one of whom holds membership in the American
2Society of Addiction Medicine and the other who is a
3physician with expertise in chronic pain management and
4treatment.

5(10) A physician who is a member of the Pennsylvania
6Psychiatric Society specializing in addiction psychiatry.

7(11) A representative recommended by the Drug and
8Alcohol Service Providers Organization of Pennsylvania.

9(12) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
10Recovery Organizations Alliance.

<-11(13) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
12Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.

<-13(13) (14) A representative recommended by a manufacturer
14of opioid drugs.

<-15(15) A wholesale distributor representative recommended
16by the Healthcare Distribution Management Association.

<-17(14) (16) A representative recommended by the
18Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association.

<-19(17) The Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police or
20his designee.

<-21(15) (18) A representative recommended by the
22Pennsylvania Coroners Association.

<-23(16) (19) A representative of chronic pain patients
24recommended by a physician with expertise in chronic pain
25management.

26(17) (20) A representative of <-pharmacists pharmacies
27recommended by the Pennsylvania Association of Chain Drug
28Stores.

29(18) (21) A representative of <-pharmacies pharmacists
30recommended by the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association.

<-1(19) (22) A representative recommended by the
2Pennsylvania State Nurses Association<-;.

3(23) A representative recommended by the Pennsylvania
4Osteopathic Medical Association;

5and be it further

6RESOLVED, That the advisory committee examine existing laws
7relative to the prescribing and dispensing of prescription
<-8opiate opioid drugs; and be it further

9RESOLVED, That the advisory committee gather facts from
10existing public hearings that have been held by legislative
11committees; and be it further

<-12RESOLVED, That the advisory committee accept and review any
13briefs or comments submitted by any stakeholders; and be it
14further

15RESOLVED, That parents, siblings or family members who have
16lost loved ones are welcome to submit their testimony for the
17record; and be it further

18RESOLVED, That the task force and advisory committee make a
19report to the General Assembly with suggested changes to current
20State laws and regulations that will provide for safer and more
21effective pain management practices, ensure that pain management
22practitioners are sufficiently trained in identifying addiction
23and referring addicted patients to appropriate care and help
24combat the proliferation of misuse and abuse of <-opiate opioid
25prescription drugs within one year of the adoption of this
26resolution.