§4541. Congressional findings and declaration of purpose

(a) The Congress finds that-

(1) alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs and the drug most frequently abused in the United States;

(2) approximately ten million, or 7 percent, of the adults in the United States are alcoholics or problem drinkers;

(3) it is estimated that alcoholism and other alcohol related problems cost the United States over $43,000,000,000 annually in lost production, medical and public assistance expenditures, police and court costs, and motor vehicle and other accidents;

(4) alcohol abuse is found with increasing frequency among persons who are multiple-drug abusers and among former heroin users who are being treated in methadone maintenance programs;

(5) alcohol abuse is being discovered among growning numbers of youth;

(6) alcohol abuse and alcoholism have a substantial impact on the families of alcohol abusers and alcoholics and contributes to domestic violence;

(7) alcohol abuse and alcoholism, together with abuse of other legal and illegal drugs, present a need for prevention and intervention programs designed to reach the general population and members of high risk populations such as youth, women, the elderly, and families of alcohol abusers and alcoholics; and

(8) alcoholism is an illness requiring treatment and rehabilitation through the assistance of a broad range of community health and social services and with the cooperation of law enforcement agencies, employers, employee associations, and associations of concerned individuals.

(b) It is the policy of the United States and the purpose of this chapter to approach alcohol abuse and alcoholism from a comprehensive community care standpoint, and to meet the problems of alcohol abuse and alcoholism through-

(1) comprehensive Federal, State, and local planning for, and effective use of, Federal assistance to States, and direct Federal assistance to community-based programs to meet the urgent needs of special populations, in coordination with all other governmental and nongovernmental sources of assistance;

(2) the development of methods for diverting problem drinkers from criminal justice systems into prevention and treatment programs;

(3) the development and encouragement of prevention programs designed to combat the spread of alcoholism, alcohol abuse, and abuse of other legal and illegal drugs;

(4) the development and encouragement of effective occupational prevention and treatment programs within government and in cooperation with the private sector; and

(5) increased Federal commitment to research into the behavioral and biomedical etiology of, the treatment of, and the mental and physical health and social and economic consequences of, alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

(Pub. L. 91–616, §2, as added Pub. L. 93–282, title I, §102(a), May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 126 ; amended Pub. L. 94–371, §2, July 26, 1976, 90 Stat. 1035 ; Pub. L. 95–622, title II, §268(a), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3437 ; Pub. L. 96–180, §2, Jan. 2, 1980, 93 Stat. 1301 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 91–616, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1848 , known as the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.

Amendments

1980-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 96–180, §2(a), substituted current findings of number of alcoholics or problem drinkers in the country (approximately ten million or 7 percent of the adults) for 1974 findings of number of alcohol abusers and alcoholics of estimated number of ninety-five million drinkers in the Nation (minimum of nine million or 7 per centum of the adults).

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 96–180, §2(a), substituted current findings respecting annual cost of over $43,000,000,000 to the United States for alcoholism and other related problems in lost production, motor vehicle and other accidents, and other items, for 1974 findings respecting minimum annual problem drinking costs of $15,000,000 to the national economy in lost working time and identical other items.

Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 96–180, §2(b)(1), inserted congressional finding respecting contribution of alcohol abuse and alcoholism to domestic violence.

Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 96–180, §2(b)(3), added par. (7). Former par. (7) redesignated (8).

Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 96–180, §2(b)(2), redesignated former par. (7) as (8) and enlisted cooperation of employers, employee associations, and associations of concerned individuals in treatment and rehabilitation of alcoholics.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 96–180, §2(c)(1), struck out "and" at end.

Subsec. (b)(3) to (5). Pub. L. 96–180, §2(c)(3), added pars. (3) and (4) and redesignated former par. (3) as (5).

1978-Subsec. (a)(6), (7). Pub. L. 95–622 added par. (6) and redesignated former par. (6) as (7).

1976-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–371 restructured provisions and inserted authorization for increased Federal commitment to research into the behavioral and biomedical etiology of alcohol abuse and alcoholism and the treatment and consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–180, §1(a), Jan. 2, 1980, 93 Stat. 1301 , provided that: "This Act [enacting section 4594, amending this section and sections 4551 to 4553, 4561, 4571 to 4573, 4576 to 4578, 4585, 4587, and 4588 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 4552 of this title] may be cited as the 'Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1979'."

Short Title of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–371, §1, July 26, 1976, 90 Stat. 1035 , provided: "That this Act [enacting sections 4578 and 4585 to 4588 of this title, amending this section, sections 218, 3511, 4571 to 4573, 4576, 4577, and 4581 of this title, and sections 1176 and 1177 of Title 21, Food and Drugs, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 4573 and 4577 of this title, and sections 1176 and 1177 of Title 21] may be cited as the 'Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1976'."

Short Title of 1974 Amendment

Pub. L. 93–282, title I, §101, May 14, 1974, 88 Stat. 126 , provided that: "This title [enacting this section and sections 4542, 4553, 4576, and 4577 of this title, amending sections 242a, 4571, 4572, 4573, 4581, and 4582 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 4581 and 4582 of this title] may be cited as the 'Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974'."

Short Title

Pub. L. 91–616, §1, Dec. 31, 1970, 84 Stat. 1848 , provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter and section 2688j–2 of this title and amending sections 218, 246, 2688h and 2688t of this title] may be cited as the 'Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970'."

National Commission on Alcoholism and Other Alcohol-Related Problems; Establishment; Executive Secretary; Interim and Final Reports of Study; Termination; Authorization of Appropriations

Pub. L. 96–180, §18, Jan. 2, 1980, 93 Stat. 1306 , as amended by Pub. L. 96–88, title V, §509(b), Oct. 17, 1979; Pub. L. 98–24, §5(a)(2), Apr. 26, 1983, 97 Stat. 183 , 93 Stat. 695, provided that:

"(a)(1) There is established a Commission to be known as the National Commission on Alcoholism and Other Alcohol-Related Problems (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 'Commission'). The Commission shall be composed of-

"(A) four Members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate upon the recommendation of the majority and minority leaders;

"(B) four Members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives upon the recommendation of the majority and minority leaders;

"(C) nine public members appointed by the President; and

"(D) not more than four nonvoting members appointed by the President from individuals employed in the administration of programs of the Federal Government which affect the prevention and treatment of alcoholism and the rehabilitation of alcoholics and alcohol abusers.

At no time shall more than two members appointed under subparagraph (A), more that two of the members appointed under subparagraph (B), or more than five of the members appointed under subparagraph (C) be members of the same political party.

"(2)(A) The President shall designate one of the members of the Commission as Chairman, and one as Vice Chairman. Nine members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may conduct hearings. Members appointed under paragraph (1)(D) shall not be considered in determining a quorum of the Commission.

"(B) Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of the duties vested in the Commission.

"(C) The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairman or at the call of the majority of the members thereof.

"(3)(A) The Commission may appoint, without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, an executive secretary to assist the Commission in carrying out its functions.

"(B) The Secretary shall provide the Commission with such additional professional and clerical staff, such information, and the services of such consultants as the Secretary determines necessary for the Commission to carry out effectively its functions.

"(C) The Commission may secure directly from any department or agency of the United States information necessary to enable it to carry out its duties under this section. Upon request of the Chairman of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission consistent with applicable laws and regulations with respect to the privacy of medical records.

"(b) The Commission shall conduct a study of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems and shall include in the study-

"(1) an assessment of unmet treatment and rehabilitation needs of alcoholics and their families;

"(2) an assessment of personnel needs in the fields of research, treatment, rehabilitation, and prevention;

"(3) an assessment of the integration and financing of alcoholism treatment and rehabilitation into health and social health care services within communities;

"(4) a study of the relationship of alcohol use to aggressive behavior and crime;

"(5) a study of the relationship of alcohol use to family violence;

"(6) a study of the relationship of alcoholism to illnesses, particularly those illnesses with a high stress component, among family members of alcoholics;

"(7) an evaluation of the effectiveness of prevention programs, including the relevance of alcohol control laws and regulations to alcoholism and alcohol-related problems;

"(8) a survey of the unmet research needs in the area of alcoholism and alcohol-related problems;

"(9) a survey of the prevalence of occupational alcoholism and alcohol abuse programs offered by Federal contractors; and

"(10) an evaluation of the needs of special and underserved population groups, including American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians, Native American Pacific Islanders, youth, the elderly, women, and the handicapped and assess the adequacy of existing services to fulfill such needs.

"(c) The Commission shall submit to the President and the Congress such interim reports as it deems advisable and shall within two years after the date on which funds first become available to carry out this section submit to the President and the Congress a final report which shall contain a detailed statement of its findings and conclusions and also such recommendations for legislation and administrative actions as it deems appropriate. The Commission shall cease to exist sixty days after the final report is submitted under this subsection.

"(d) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall be responsible for the coordination of the activities of the Commission.

"(e) There are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of this section $1,000,000 to remain available until the expiration of the Commission."