Ch. 782

LAWS OF MARYLAND

[(j)] (L) "Drug dependence" means a disease characterized
by:

(1)  Drug abuse; and

(2)  Physical symptoms of withdrawal or tolerance.

[(k)] (M) "State Advisory Council" means the State Advisory
Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

Subtitle 5. [Disposition and Treatment of an Alcohol Abuser]

ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE - PUBLICLY INTOXICATED INDIVIDUALS,

COURT ORDERED EVALUATIONS, AND VOLUNTARY TREATMENT

8-501.

(a)  (1) In cooperation with State and local police, the
Administration [and appropriate officials of each subdivision of
this State shall have procedures] MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS under
which personnel other than the police are authorized to exercise
the powers under this section whenever feasible so that the
exercise of those powers by the police are reduced to a minimum.

(2) The police and other authorized personnel who act
under this section are acting within the scope of their official
duty.

(b)  [(1) The] IF A PUBLICLY INTOXICATED INDIVIDUAL CONSENTS
OR AN INDIVIDUAL'S HEALTH IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, THE police or
other authorized personnel may take or send a publicly
intoxicated individual TO:

[(i) To the individual's home;

(ii) To a health facility; or

(iii) If the individual is unable to decide
rationally about accepting help or the individual's health is in
immediate danger, to a detoxification center]

(1)  THE INDIVIDUAL'S HOME;

(2)  A DETOXIFICATION CENTER; OR

(3)  ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE HEALTH CARE FACILITY AS
DEFINED IN § 19-101(E) OF THIS ARTICLE.

[(2) If the police use commercial means to transport
an intoxicated individual under this subsection, the police may
take reasonable measures to assure that the individual pays in
advance.]

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