BILL NUMBER: ACR 72	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  JULY 9, 2009
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 24, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Huffman

                        MAY 5, 2009

   Relative to Pain Awareness Month.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 72, Huffman. Pain Awareness Month.
   This measure would recognize September 2009 as Pain Awareness
Month and call upon all Californians to observe that month by
learning how to improve the quality of life of Californians suffering
from pain.



   WHEREAS, More than 75 million Americans live with chronic pain
caused by various diseases or disorders, and each year, nearly 25
million Americans suffer with acute pain; and
   WHEREAS, Though medical knowledge and technology exist to relieve
or greatly ease pain, most pain is untreated, undertreated, or
improperly treated, and many health care professionals are still
unaware of how to effectively treat pain; and
   WHEREAS, People who suffer from chronic pain are often stigmatized
and marginalized and are often not informed about the right to
effective pain assessment and management, and most people with pain,
including those at the end of life, get little or no relief; and
   WHEREAS, The California-based Partners for Understanding Pain is a
growing coalition of pain sufferers, physicians, nurses, social
workers, pharmacists, therapists, civic leaders, nonprofit
organizations, and health care businesses whose mission is to improve
the quality of life for people in California experiencing pain; and
   WHEREAS, It is the collective mission of this movement to provide
practical information for people with pain, inform health care
professionals about pain management, and serve as an advocate for
people experiencing pain; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the month of
September 2009 as Pain Awareness Month, and calls upon all
Californians to observe this month by participating in appropriate
ceremonies and activities and by learning how to improve the quality
of life for people in California suffering from pain; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.