Senate Resolution Day

Senate Resolution Declares September 7th AD/HD Awareness Day

David Giwerc

Did you know that September 7th, 2004 was officially designated as "National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day"?


Senate Resolution Declares September 7th AD/HD Awareness Day

Date: 07-10-04

Contact: Attention Deficit Disorder Association (484) 945-2101

POTTSVILLE, PA – The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) today announced that Senate Resolution 370, Designating September 7, 2004, as `National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day' was passed by unanimous consent. The resolution sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell (Washington) and co-sponsored by Senator Richard Durbin (Illinois), recognizes Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) as a major public health concern and “expresses the sense of the Senate that the Federal Government has a responsibility to (a) endeavor to raise public awareness about AD/HD; and (b) continue to consider ways to improve access to, and the quality of, mental health services dedicated to the purpose of improving the quality of life for children and adults with AD/HD".

ADDA, the world’s leading source of information and support for Adult AD/HD, served as the sponsoring organization of the resolution and as a key resource for Senator Cantwell in developing the resolution. “It is our hope that September 7, 2004 will be the beginning of a nationwide awareness leading to greater understanding and acceptance of AD/HD,” said David, Giwerc, ADDA President. “We believe this is a monumental first step to encouraging all people in the United States to seek the appropriate information, diagnosis, treatment and support, potentially improving the quality of life for the millions of adults with AD/HD".

AD/HD is a neurobiological disorder that affects an estimated 3 percent to 7 percent of young school-age children and an estimated 4 percent of adults across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines. Characterized by developmentally inappropriate impulsivity, inattention, and in some cases, hyperactivity, until recently AD/HD was thought to occur only in childhood. Scientific studies clearly indicate that AD/HD runs in families and suggest that genetic inheritance is an important risk factor, with between 10 and 35 percent of children with AD/HD having a first-degree relative with past or present AD/HD, and with approximately 50 percent of parents who had AD/HD having a child with the disorder.

"AD/HD is a real disorder that can have potentially devastating effects for individuals and their families when left undiagnosed and untreated.,” according to ADDA CEO Michele Novotni, Ph.D. “The good news is that with proper treatment, people with AD/HD can go on to lead tremendously successful, fulfilling lives. We thank Senator Cantwell and her colleagues for recognizing the importance of raising awareness about the disorder among the public.”

Several leading healthcare, education and consumer advocacy organizations have joined ADDA in supporting the Senate resolution. Among them are the National Mental Health Association, American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health. Plans are now underway for coordinating AD/HD Awareness Day activities with these and other groups throughout the country.

ADDA provides information, resources and networking opportunities to help adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) lead better lives. We provide hope, empowerment and connections worldwide by bringing together science and the human experience for both adults with AD/HD and professionals who serve them.


(here is the actual resolution)

108th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. RES. 370

Designating September 7, 2004, as `National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day'.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 7, 2004

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

June 18, 2004

Reported by Mr. HATCH, without amendment

July 6, 2004

Considered and agreed to


RESOLUTION

Designating September 7, 2004, as `National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day'.

Whereas Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (also known as AD/HD or ADD), is a chronic neurobiological disorder, affecting both children and adults, that can significantly interfere with an individual's ability to regulate activity level, inhibit behavior, and attend to tasks in developmentally appropriate ways;

Whereas AD/HD can cause devastating consequences, including failure in school and the workplace, antisocial behavior, encounters with the justice system, interpersonal difficulties, and substance abuse;

Whereas AD/HD, the most extensively studied mental disorder in children, affects an estimated 3 percent to 7 percent (2,000,000) of young school-age children and an estimated 4 percent (8,000,000) of adults across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines;

Whereas scientific studies clearly indicate that AD/HD runs in families and suggest that genetic inheritance is an important risk factor, with between 10 and 35 percent of children with AD/HD having a first-degree relative with past or present AD/HD, and with approximately 50 percent of parents who had AD/HD having a child with the disorder;

Whereas despite the serious consequences that can manifest in the family and life experiences of an individual with AD/HD, studies indicate that less than 85 percent of adults with the disorder are diagnosed and less than half of children and adults with the disorder are receiving treatment;

Whereas poor and minority communities are particularly underserved by AD/HD resources;

Whereas the Surgeon General, the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), the American Psychological Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institute of Mental Health, among others, recognize the need for proper diagnosis, education, and treatment of AD/HD;

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 AD/HD, and the dissemination of inaccurate, misleading information contributes to the obstacles preventing diagnosis and treatment of the disorder;

Whereas lack of knowledge, combined with the issue of stigma associated with AD/HD, has a particularly detrimental effect on the diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD;

Whereas there is a need to educate 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 and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment, the symptoms of AD/HD can be substantially decreased and quality of life for the individual can be improved: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) designates September 7, 2004, as `National Attention Deficit Disorder Awareness Day';

(2) recognizes Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) as a major public health concern;

(3) encourages all people of the United States to find out more about AD/HD and its supporting mental health services, and to 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 public awareness about AD/HD; and

(B) continue to consider ways to improve access to, and the quality of, mental health services dedicated to the purpose of improving the quality of life for children and adults with AD/HD; and

(5) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on Federal, State and local administrators and the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate programs and activities.