(a) Alcoholism and drug dependence are addictive disorders and are recognized and declared to be primary, progressive and chronic diseases and a public health problem affecting the general welfare and economy of the state. The need for proper and sufficient facilities, programs and procedures within the state for the control and treatment and rehabilitation and recovery of alcohol and drug dependent persons is recognized. It is declared that the procedures for the securing of services for such persons are not punitive but rather are for the purpose of treatment of an illness affecting not only the individual involved but also the public welfare.
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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 33-10-103

  • Alcoholism: means alcohol abuse that results in the development of tolerance or manifestation of alcohol abstinence syndrome upon cessation of use. See Tennessee Code 33-10-102
  • Department: means the department of mental health and substance abuse services. See Tennessee Code 33-1-101
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Drug abuse: means a condition characterized by the continuous or episodic use of a drug or drugs that results in social impairment, vocational impairment, psychological dependence or pathological patterns of use. See Tennessee Code 33-10-102
  • Drug dependence: means drug abuse that results in the development of tolerance or manifestations of drug abstinence syndrome upon cessation of use. See Tennessee Code 33-10-102
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) The policy of the state with reference to alcoholism and drug dependence is declared to be as follows:

(1) The prevention of alcoholism and drug dependence should be accomplished in a number of ways, including public education concerning the causes, symptoms and nature of alcoholism and drug dependence. In order to so educate the public, the department shall prepare and distribute suitable educational material to the schools and interested members of the public, render assistance to suitable local agencies and provide activities promoting public interest in and information about substance abuse and dependence;
(2) As a component of the program described in subdivision (b)(1), the department, in coordination with the department of education, shall increase efforts to educate and raise public awareness of the dangers of methamphetamine manufacture and abuse, including, but not limited to, distribution of public information materials designed to oppose methamphetamine abuse and shall direct persons suffering from the effects of methamphetamine abuse to proper treatment resources;
(3)

(A) Programs for assisting the rehabilitation of alcohol and drug dependent persons are properly instituted, financed, and sponsored locally by interested citizens or agencies organized to:

(i) Meet the particular needs of each local community; and
(ii) Utilize the available personnel and facilities in each local community;
(B) It is the policy of the state to render needed advice, guidance and assistance in the organization and conduct of such approved local facilities and to supplement local efforts and financing by providing personnel and matching grants or funds; and
(4) Individuals who receive alcohol or drug abuse services should be required to pay the reasonable cost of counseling, assistance, treatment or rehabilitation furnished to them; however, no one should be refused assistance because of the inability to pay for such services.
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