Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services and Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 92 entitled:

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Health and 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.

Your Committees heard testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Education and Christian Science Committee on Publication for Hawaii. Your Committee heard testimony in opposition to the measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committees find that there is the perception among some members of the general public of an indiscriminate and excessive prescription of Ritalin and other drugs by the medical community. Nevertheless, data from the Department of Health indicates that the diagnosis of children with "attention deficit disorder" or "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" is made no more frequently in Hawaii than in other regions of the United States. Of those students diagnosed with the disorder, 35-40% have learning problems which may be addressed in the regular classroom setting while 10-15% will need a special education setting or self-contained classroom.

Your Committees further find that when case management review does not recommend alternative treatments, appropriate levels of medication can be a highly effective component of treatment and result in dramatic improvements in learning, development, and socialization.

Your Committees have amended the measure generally by changing the tone and objectives so as not to place blame on parents of children with "attention deficit disorder" or "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" who allowed them to take appropriate levels of medication. Specifically, this includes:

(1) Changing all references from "drugs" to "medication;"

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services and Education that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 92, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 92, S.D. 1.