CO SJR009

Designates February 2016 as "Self-Care Month" in Colorado to recognize the importance of healthy lifestyle choices, hygiene practices, illness prevention, and appropriate use of over-the-counter medicines

Acknowledges that every dollar spent on over-the-counter medicines saves the U.S. health care system approximately $6 annually, totaling $102 billion in annual savings

Supports increased consumer empowerment through development of new nonprescription medicines and appropriate switching of prescription medicines to nonprescription status

Encourages consumers, health care practitioners, policymakers, and regulators to communicate the benefits of self-care and reduce unnecessary medical examinations

Recognizes that over-the-counter medicines can greatly reduce costs to the public health system while improving personal health outcomes and reducing health care service utilization