2023 -- S 0950

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LC001972

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING MAY 1ST THROUGH MAY 7TH OF 2023, TO BE "TARDIVE

DYSKINESIA (TD) AWARENESS WEEK" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators Miller, Picard, Felag, McKenney, Lauria, Quezada, Ciccone,
Tikoian, LaMountain, and Burke

     Date Introduced: April 27, 2023

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Many people with serious, chronic mental illness, such as schizophrenia,

bipolar disorder, severe depression, or gastrointestinal disorders, including gastroparesis, nausea,

and vomiting require treatment with medications that work as dopamine receptor blocking agents

(DRBAs), including antipsychotics; and

     WHEREAS, While ongoing treatment with these medications can be very helpful, and

even lifesaving, for many people, it can also lead to Tardive Dyskinesia (TD); and

     WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia is a movement disorder that is characterized by random,

involuntary, and uncontrolled movements of different muscles in the face, trunk and/or

extremities that can vary in frequency and amplitude; and

     WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia can develop months, years, or decades after a person

starts taking DRBAs and even after they have discontinued use of those medications. Not

everyone who takes a DRBA develops TD, but if it develops it is often permanent; and

     WHEREAS, It is estimated that over 600,000 Americans suffer from Tardive Dyskinesia.

According to the National Alliance for Mental Illness, one in every four patients receiving long-

term treatment with an antipsychotic medication will experience Tardive Dyskinesia; and

     WHEREAS, Years of difficult and challenging research have resulted in recent scientific

breakthroughs, with new treatments including VMAT inhibitors for Tardive Dyskinesia approved

by the United States Food and Drug Administration; and

     WHEREAS, Tardive Dyskinesia is often unrecognized and patients suffering from the

illness are commonly misdiagnosed. Regular screening for TD in patients taking DRBA

medications is recommended by the American Psychiatric Association (APA); now, therefore be

it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby proclaims May 1st

through May 7th to be "Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) Awareness Week" in the State of Rhode Island;

and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby encourages the medical community and all

individuals in the United States and Rhode Island to become better informed about and aware of

Tardive Dyskinesia; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Ms. Karla M. Kiriako, Director, State

Government Affairs-East, Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., and Ellen Brown, Policy Analyst, BGR

Government Affairs, LLC.

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LC001972

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