STAND. COM. REP. NO.1191
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2001
RE: H.C.R. No. 51
H.D. 1
Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twenty-First State Legislature
Regular Session of 2001
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 51 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO JOINTLY DETERMINE WHETHER THE DIAGNOSIS OF CHILDREN WITH "ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER" OR "ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER" IN HAWAII HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE, WHETHER HAWAII'S CHILDREN ARE BEING SUBJECTED TO EXCESSIVE USE OF PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS TO MODIFY THEIR BEHAVIOR, AND TO RESEARCH, EXAMINE, AND RECOMMEND NON-DRUG ALTERNATIVES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this concurrent resolution is to request that the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DOE) jointly:
(1) Determine whether the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Hawaii has been excessive;
(2) Determine whether Hawaii's children are being subjected to excessive use of psychiatric medications to modify their behavior; and
(3) Research, examine, and recommend non-drug alternatives to solve this problem.
DOE and a concerned citizen supported the intent of this measure.
DOH testified in opposition to this measure.
Your Committee understands that the diagnosis of ADD and ADHD is a complex process that may be treated with medications. However, your Committee further understands that, rather than treating these disorders with unnecessary medication, discussing the use of other alternatives that would enable the affected children to be happy and cooperative learners, friends, and family members is paramount.
Your Committee believes that non-pharmaceutical means of controlling ADD and ADHD, such as EEG Biofeedback, need to be examined. Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Defining the EEG Biofeedback treatment method;
(2) Including EEG Biofeedback as one of the non-drug alternatives for the treatment of ADD and ADHD; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 51, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to the Committee on Education in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 51, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,
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____________________________ DENNIS A. ARAKAKI, Chair |