2015
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 15-010
       
       
       BY SENATOR(S) Martinez Humenik, Baumgardner, Carroll, Crowder,
       Grantham, Heath, Kefalas, Kerr, Lundberg, Merrifield, Neville T.,
       Scheffel, Scott, Todd, Woods;
       also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Melton, Arndt, Becker J., Becker K.,
       Brown, Buck, Buckner, Carver, Conti, Coram, Court, Danielson,
       DelGrosso, Dore, Duran, Esgar, Everett, Fields, Foote, Garnett, Ginal,
       Hamner, Humphrey, Kagan, Keyser, Klingenschmitt, Kraft-Tharp,
       Landgraf, Lawrence, Lebsock, Lee, Lontine, Lundeen, McCann, Mitsch
       Bush, Moreno, Navarro, Neville P., Nordberg, Pabon, Pettersen,
       Primavera, Priola, Rankin, Ransom, Rosenthal, Roupe, Ryden, Saine,
       Salazar, Sias, Singer, Tate, Thurlow, Tyler, Van Winkle, Vigil, Willett,
       Williams, Wilson, Windholz, Winter, Young, Hullinghorst.
       
       
          CONCERNING THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CARE, AND, IN
       CONNECTION THEREWITH, DECLARING FEBRUARY 2015 AS
       "SELF-CARE MONTH". 
       
       
          WHEREAS, Self-care is a lifelong daily habit of healthy lifestyle
       choices, good hygiene practices, prevention of infection and illness,
       avoiding unhealthy choices, monitoring for signs and symptoms of
       changes in health, knowing when to consult a health care practitioner, and
       knowing when it is appropriate to self-treat conditions; and
       
          WHEREAS, The United States food and drug administration deems
       over-the-counter medicines safe and effective for the self-care treatment
       of minor acute and chronic health conditions and symptoms such as pain,
       the common cold, allergies, and other conditions that impact large
       segments of the population; and
       
          WHEREAS, Over-the-counter medicines are either developed as new
       nonprescription medicines or switched from existing prescription
       medicines; and
       
          WHEREAS, Over-the-counter nonprescription medicines are self-care
       products that consumers purchase in pharmacies, supermarkets, and other
       retail stores and on line; and
       
          WHEREAS, Every dollar spent on over-the-counter medicines saves
       the United States health care system $6 to $7, totaling $102 billion in
       annual savings; and
       
          WHEREAS, Nonprescription medicines help to ease the burden on
       health care practitioners, eliminating unnecessary medical examinations
       with appropriate self-care; and
       
          WHEREAS, Colorado benefits when its citizens practice appropriate
       self-care; do not unnecessarily visit health care practitioners; are
       empowered by higher self-esteem and improved health; and reduce use
       of Colorado's health care system; and
       
          WHEREAS, Colorado encourages its citizens to take advantage of the
       potential of self-care to improve personal and public health, save money
       for individuals and society, and strengthen the sustainability of Colorado's
       health care system; and
       
          WHEREAS, Achieving the full potential of self-care is a shared
       opportunity for consumers, health care practitioners, policymakers, and
       regulators; now, therefore,
       
          Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventieth General Assembly of the
       State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:
       
          That we, the members of the General Assembly: 
          
               Recognize the importance of improving awareness of self-care and
               the value it represents to the citizens of Colorado;
               Support increased consumer empowerment through the
               development of new nonprescription medicines and the
               appropriate switching of certain prescription medicines to
               nonprescription;
               Acknowledge that over-the-counter medicines can greatly improve
               health and reduce costs to the public health system; and
               Encourage consumers, health care practitioners, policymakers, and
               regulators to communicate the benefits of self-care.
       
       
       
       
       
       ____________________________  ____________________________
       Bill L. Cadman               Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
       PRESIDENT OF                    SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
       THE SENATE                        OF REPRESENTATIVES
       
       
       
       
       
       
       ____________________________  ____________________________
       Cindi L. Markwell                     Marilyn Eddins
       SECRETARY OF                CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
       THE SENATE                        OF REPRESENTATIVES