§22-13A-2. Legislative findings.

(a) The Legislature finds all of the following:

(1) Osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease, is a major public health problem that poses a threat to the health and quality of life to as many as 25 million Americans.

(2) The 1.5 million fractures each year that result from osteoporosis cause pain, disability, immobility and social isolation, affecting quality of life and threatening the ability of people to live independently.

(3) Because osteoporosis progresses silently and without sensation over many years, and many cases remain undiagnosed, the first symptom of the disease is often a fracture, typically of the hip, spine, or wrist.

(4) One of two women and one of five men will suffer an osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime.

(5) A woman's risk of hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer.

(6) The annual direct and indirect costs of osteoporosis to the health care system are estimated to be as high as eighteen billion dollars ($18,000,000,000) in 1993, and are expected to rise above sixty billion dollars ($60,000,000,000) by the year 2020.

(7) Since osteoporosis progresses silently and currently has no cure, prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment are keys to reducing the prevalence of and devastation from this disease.

(8) Although there exists a large quantity of public information about osteoporosis, it remains inadequately disseminated and not tailored to meet the needs of specific population groups.

(9) Most people, including physicians, health care providers, and government agencies, continue to lack knowledge in the prevention, detection, and treatment of the disease.

(10) Experts in the field of osteoporosis believe that with greater awareness of the value of prevention among medical experts, service providers, and the public, osteoporosis will be preventable and treatable in the future, thereby reducing the costs of long-term care.

(11) Osteoporosis is a multi-generational issue because building strong bones during youth and preserving them during adulthood may prevent fractures in later life.

(12) Educating the public and health care community throughout the state about this potentially devastating disease is of paramount importance and is in every respect in the public interest and to the benefit of all residents of the state.

(Acts 1995, No. 95-259, p. 435, §2.)