A. The department shall study the problem of alcoholism and drug abuse, including methods and facilities available for the care, custody, detention, treatment, employment and rehabilitation of persons addicted to the intemperate use of spirituous or intoxicating liquors or drugs. The department shall promote meetings for the discussion of problems confronting treatment facilities, clinics and agencies engaged in protective custody, treatment and rehabilitation of alcohol-impaired persons and drug-impaired persons and shall disseminate information on the subject of alcoholism and drug abuse for the assistance and guidance of residents and courts of the state.

B. The department shall make such reasonable rules for treatment facilities concerning physical conditions for protective custody commitments pursuant to Section 43-2-8 NMSA 1978 as it deems necessary, including such rules it deems appropriate for minors.

History: 1941 Comp., § 61-1203, enacted by Laws 1949, ch. 114, § 3; 1953 Comp., § 46-12-3; Laws 1957, ch. 12, § 1; 1976 (S.S.), ch. 9, § 3; 1977, ch. 253, § 51; 1977, ch. 374, § 4; 1983, ch. 177, § 3; 1989, ch. 47, § 3; 2005, ch. 198, § 4.

The 2005 amendment, effective July 1, 2005, provided in Subsection A that the department shall promote discussions confronting treatment facilities and clinics and agencies engaged in protective custody of alcohol-impaired persons; deleted in Subsection A the requirement that the bureau suggest regulations respecting care and treatment of persons committed to state institutions because of alcoholism or drugs; provided in Subsection B that the department shall make rules for treatment facilities concerning physical conditions for protective custody commitments, including rules for minors; and deleted former Subsections A through E which provided standards to guide the division in the promulgation of regulations with respect to treatment programs.

The 1989 amendment, effective June 16, 1989, substituted "substance abuse" for "alcoholism" in the catchline and in the first sentence of the undesignated introductory paragraph; and in the undesignated introductory paragraph inserted "and drug abuse" and "or drugs" in the first sentence, inserted "and drug-impaired persons" and "and drug abuse" in the second sentence, in the third sentence twice substituted "care and treatment" for "care, treatment and discipline" and inserted "or impairment due to drugs", and substituted "alcoholics, intoxicated persons and persons impaired by drugs" for "alcoholics and intoxicated persons" at the end of the fourth sentence.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 41 Am. Jur. 2d Incompetent Persons § 35.