Requires hospitals to inquire whether patients have substance use disorder and establish protocols for providing or referring to treatment.

S 1212 requires New Jersey hospitals to ask patients aged 18 or older about substance use disorder or recovery during care. Hospitals must create public protocols within 180 days for treatment or referrals to care for patients who disclose these conditions. The bill mandates this as a standard practice for all general acute care hospitals licensed in New Jersey. It does not specify funding or penalties but directs the Health Commissioner to adopt implementing rules. The policy directly affects hospitals and patients seeking care, aiming to integrate substance use support into standard hospital services.