[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S8050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 649--DESIGNATION SEPTEMBER 18, 2008, AS ``NATIONAL 
               ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER AWARENESS DAY''

  Ms. CANTWELL (for herself and Mr. Smith) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary;

                              S. Res. 649

       Whereas Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (also 
     known as ADHD or ADD), is a chronic neurobiological disorder 
     that affects both children and adults, and can significantly 
     interfere with the ability of an individual to regulate 
     activity level, inhibit behavior, and attend to tasks in 
     developmentally-appropriate ways;
       Whereas ADHD can cause devastating consequences, including 
     failure in school and the workplace, antisocial behavior, 
     encounters with the criminal justice system, interpersonal 
     difficulties, and substance abuse;
       Whereas ADHD, the most extensively studied mental disorder 
     in children, affects an estimated 3 to 7 percent (4,000,000) 
     of young school-age children and an estimated 4 percent 
     (8,000,000) of adults across racial, ethnic, and socio-
     economic lines;
       Whereas scientific studies indicate that between 10 and 35 
     percent of children with ADHD have a first-degree relative 
     with past or present ADHD, and that approximately \1/2\ of 
     parents who had ADHD have a child with the disorder, 
     suggesting that ADHD runs in families and inheritance is an 
     important risk factor;
       Whereas despite the serious consequences that can manifest 
     in the family and life experiences of an individual with 
     ADHD, studies indicate that less than 85 percent of adults 
     with the disorder are diagnosed and less than \1/2\ of 
     children and adults with the disorder receive treatment and, 
     furthermore, poor and minority communities are particularly 
     underserved by ADHD resources;
       Whereas the Surgeon General, the American Medical 
     Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the 
     American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the 
     American Psychological Association, the American Academy of 
     Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
     and the National Institutes of Mental Health, among others, 
     recognize the need for proper diagnosis, education, and 
     treatment of ADHD;
       Whereas the lack of public knowledge and understanding of 
     the disorder play a significant role in the overwhelming 
     numbers of undiagnosed and untreated cases of ADHD, and the 
     dissemination of inaccurate, misleading information 
     contributes as an obstacle for diagnosis and treatment;
       Whereas lack of knowledge combined with issues of stigma 
     have a particularly detrimental effect on the diagnosis and 
     treatment of the disorder;
       Whereas there is a need for education of health care 
     professionals, employers, and educators about the disorder 
     and a need for well-trained mental health professionals 
     capable of conducting proper diagnosis and treatment 
     activities; and
       Whereas studies by the National Institute of Mental Health 
     and others consistently reveal that through proper 
     comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, the symptoms of ADHD 
     can be substantially decreased and quality of life can be 
     improved: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 18, 2008, as ``National Attention 
     Deficit Disorder Awareness Day'';
       (2) recognizes Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 
     (ADHD) as a major public health concern;
       (3) encourages all Americans to find out more about ADHD, 
     support ADHD mental health services, and seek the appropriate 
     treatment and support, if necessary;
       (4) expresses the sense of the Senate that the Federal 
     Government has a responsibility to--
       (A) endeavor to raise awareness about ADHD; and
       (B) continue to consider ways to improve access and quality 
     of mental health services dedicated to improving the quality 
     of life of children and adults with ADHD; and
       (5) calls on Federal, State, and local administrators and 
     the people of the United States to observe the day with 
     appropriate programs and activities.

                          ____________________