OK SR61

Recognizes September as Pain Awareness Month in Oklahoma and encourages citizens to become informed about chronic pain impacts and prescription opioid abuse prevention.

Urges state agencies to examine how Oklahoma can improve citizen health and productivity and reduce expenditures by implementing recommendations from the Institute of Medicine's 2011 report "Relieving Pain in America."

In 2012, Oklahoma tied Kentucky for the third highest rate of painkillers prescribed, and 510 Oklahomans died from unintentional drug overdose in 2014.

Encourages patients and providers to follow appropriate pain management practices, including nonpharmacological treatments, non-opioid medications, and abuse-deterrent medications when appropriate.

Supports adoption of pain medication abuse-deterrent technologies to prevent misuse and abuse while maintaining patient access to necessary medicines.