A new law will require the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals to work with the Department of Health to update the state’s statutes related to substance use disorders and emergency commitment for drug intoxication.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Joshua Miller and Rep. Jennifer Boylan sponsored the legislation, which Gov. Daniel McKee signed on June 4.
“Some parts of our laws concerning substance use treatment are 40 or 50 years old. Besides containing language and terms that are now offensive and insensitive, they also need to be modernized to reflect today’s practices. Our laws should not perpetuate stigmas, and should be supportive of efforts to effectively treat people affected by substance use disorders,” said Chairman Miller.
The law requires that the departments submit their proposed changes to the General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2025. Then, lawmakers can consider the changes during the next legislative session.
“Effective treatment and services for people with substance use disorders starts with effective policies. We recognize better today than when these laws were written that substance use disorders are a health issue, not a criminal matter. Getting leaders together to craft laws that approach it from that angle will direct our resources toward getting people the help they need, when they need it,” said Representative Boylan.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
