SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 1619

BYHouse Committee on Human Services (originally sponsored by Representative Brekke)

Revising treatment of alcoholism and other drug addiction.

House Committe on Human Services

Senate Committee on Health Care & Corrections

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 29, 1989; March 30, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; Smith, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Johnson, Kreidler, Niemi, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Kris Zabriskie (786-7439)

                  March 30, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE & CORRECTIONS, MARCH 30, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Bureau of Alcohol and Substance Abuse develops and administers a comprehensive program of alcoholism and drug addiction treatment and prevention services for residents of the state of Washington.  It seeks to reduce alcoholism and drug dependency by providing treatment services.  The bureau does not provide any direct treatment services.  The bureau's prevention and treatment funds are disbursed through contracts.  The bureau regulates all providers of alcoholism and drug abuse services in the state.  It contracts with counties and nonprofit agencies to provide treatment services to persons who cannot afford the full cost of treatment, and with a prevention program directed at youth.

Currently, the duties and responsibilities of the Department of Social and Health Services for providing these services are specified in three chapters of the law.  These three chapters contain dated terminology, obsolete definitions and duplicative language.  They maintain a separate status for drug treatment centers and alcohol treatment facilities whose standards were combined and made uniform by rule in 1985.

Chapter 69.54 establishes certification standards for drug treatment centers, and also provides for financial support for county drug abuse programs, the establishment of county drug abuse administrative boards and the certification of methadone treatment programs.

Chapter 70.96 relates to alcoholism, and provides for the approval of alcoholism treatment facilities, financial assistance to county alcoholism programs and the establishment of county alcoholism administrative boards.

Chapter 70.96A is the Uniform Alcoholism and Intoxication Treatment law, providing for voluntary and involuntary treatment of persons incapacitated by alcohol.  This chapter also authorizes a discrete treatment program for alcoholism provided by the department, including emergency treatment, inpatient and outpatient treatment and follow-up.  Standards for both public and private treatment facilities are required as well.

Alcohol and drug addiction is unprofessional conduct under the Uniform Disciplinary Act for the regulated health professions.

SUMMARY:

Chapter 69.54 RCW relating to drug treatment, and Chapter 70.96 RCW relating to alcoholism treatment are repealed and re-codified in Chapter 70.96A RCW.  The definition of alcoholic is clarified, and new definitions of alcoholism, chemical dependency, discrete chemical dependency treatment program, and drug addiction are provided. Chemical dependency includes both alcoholism and drug addiction, and is declared a disease which needs treatment.

Treatment programs include the treatment of alcoholics and drug addicts as well as their families.

Obsolete language and duplicative sections are repealed and the separate distinctions for alcoholism and drug treatment programs are unified in a comprehensive chapter.  Alcohol and drug misuse is unprofessional conduct under the Uniform Disciplinary Act for the regulated health professions.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Linda Grant, Association of Alcoholism and Addictions Programs (pro); Ken Stark, DSHS, Bureau of Alcohol/Substance Abuse (pro)