2021 Colorado Code
Title 27 - Behavioral Health
Article 81 - Alcohol Use Education, Prevention, and Treatment
§ 27-81-101. Legislative Declaration
- The general assembly recognizes the character and pervasiveness of substance use disorders and that substance use disorders are serious problems. The general assembly further finds and declares that these problems have been very seriously neglected and that the social and economic costs and the waste of human resources caused by substance use disorders are massive, tragic, and no longer acceptable. The general assembly believes that the best interests of this state demand an across-the-board, locally oriented attack on the massive problems of drug abuse and substance use disorders. The attack includes prevention, education, and treatment, and this article 81 provides a base from which to launch the attack and reduce the tragic human loss.
- It is the policy of this state that persons with substance use disorders, persons intoxicated by alcohol, and persons under the influence of drugs should be afforded treatment so they may lead normal lives as productive members of society. The general assembly finds and declares that substance use disorders are matters of statewide concern.
History. Source: L. 2010: Entire article added with relocations,(SB 10-175), ch. 188, p. 732, § 2, effective April 29. L. 2017: Entire section amended,(SB 17-242), ch. 263, p. 1362, § 270, effective May 25. L. 2020: Entire section R&RE,(SB 20-007), ch. 286, p. 1392, § 11, effective July 13.
Editor's note:
This section is similar to former § 27-82-101 as it existed prior to 2020.
Cross references:For the legislative declaration in SB 17-242, see section 1 of chapter 263, Session Laws of Colorado 2017.
ANNOTATIONAnnotator's note. Since § 27-81-101 is similar to § 25-1-301 as it existed prior to the 2010 amendments to this article, relevant cases construing that provision have been included in the annotations to this section.
Compelling state interest. The state has a compelling interest in protecting an intoxicated individual and the general public from the catastrophic consequences of alcohol abuse. Carberry v. Adams County Task Force on Alcoholism, 672 P.2d 206 (Colo. 1983).
Applied in Ramos v. Lamm, 485 F. Supp. 122 (D. Colo. 1979 ).
