HOUSE MEMORIAL 27

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Dianne Miller Hamilton

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE VETERANS' SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT A STUDY OF THE EFFICACY OF NAPRAPATHIC MEDICINE IN TREATING VETERANS WHO SUFFER FROM POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER.

     WHEREAS, naprapathic medicine has been practiced for over one hundred years to treat pain; and

     WHEREAS, naprapaths are connective tissue specialists who use a hands-on approach to treat ligaments, tendons and fascia to facilitate spinal alignment without the use of drugs; and

     WHEREAS, many veterans suffer pain from service-connected injuries and from the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder; and

     WHEREAS, traditional modalities to treat pain may not always provide relief to veterans with service-connected injuries; and

     WHEREAS, it is important to provide veterans with every avenue available that can provide relief from their injuries; and

     WHEREAS, many veterans in the state seek treatment through naprapathic medicine; and

     WHEREAS, due to the draw down of the troops in the Middle East, an influx of veterans coming back to the state is expected, and they will require various treatment options for their injuries; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico should prepare for these veterans and put in place additional opportunities for treating their muscular and skeletal injuries;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the veterans' services department be requested to conduct a study, in cooperation with the department of health and local naprapathic practitioners, of the benefits of naprapathic medicine in treating veterans suffering from pain due to service-connected injuries and due to the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study be presented to the military and veterans' affairs committee on or before December 1, 2013; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of veterans' services, the secretary of health and to the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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