AB 2995: Public health: alcohol and drug programs.

Under existing law, the State Department of Health Care Services is responsible for administering prevention, treatment, and recovery services for alcohol and drug abuse and problem gambling. Existing law defines alcohol abuser and drug abuser, for these purposes, as anyone who has a problem related to the consumption of alcoholic beverages or illicit, illegal, legal, or prescription drugs or over-the-counter medications in a manner other than prescribed, respectively, whether or not it is of a periodic or continuing nature. Existing law defines alcohol and other drug services as a service that is designed to encourage recovery from the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, and alcohol and other drug abuse program as a collection of alcohol and other drug services that are coordinated to achieve specified objectives. Existing law also provides for the licensure and regulation of adult alcoholism or drug abuse recovery and treatment facilities by the department and authorizes the department to enforce those provisions.

Existing law, the Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, contains provisions governing the operation and financing of community mental health services, including substance abuse services, for persons with mental health disorders in every county through locally administered and locally controlled community mental health programs. Existing law, the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, provides for the involuntary commitment and treatment of persons with specified mental health disorders for the protection of the persons so committed, including detention of inebriates for evaluation and detoxification treatment, as specified. The Bronzan-McCorquodale Act, Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, and other various provisions of the Welfare and Institutions Code refer to substance abuse or drug abuse and substance using adults or inebriates.

This bill would revise and recast various terms, including alcohol and other drug abuse program, alcohol abuser, drug abuser, and inebriate to use person-first terminology. The bill would also make other technical and conforming changes to remove stigmatization of individuals seeking alcohol or other drug treatment or services.

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 11833.05 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by AB 2574 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2574 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

This bill would also incorporate additional changes to Sections 5348, 5600.3, 5802, 5806, 5814, 5856.2, and 18986.40 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 2119 to be operative only if this bill and AB 2119 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.