Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders

S 5969 requires all substance use disorder treatment facilities to post a "treatment bill of rights" in visible locations and provide a copy to every patient at admission. This bill of rights outlines 10 specific patient rights, including the right to participate in treatment planning, receive clear explanations of services, maintain privacy, and report grievances. It directly affects patients receiving treatment and facility staff, who must also receive copies of the document. The law mandates these postings and distributions without altering existing treatment standards, focusing solely on transparency and patient awareness.

Directs the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to establish a program for individuals to receive free drug test strips to detect the presence of medetomidine, benzodiazepine, nitazenes, and/or other harmful contaminants; directs the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services, in cooperation with the commissioner of the department of health, to develop and conduct a public awareness and educational campaign on the dangers of medetomidine, benzodiazepine, nitazenes, and/or other harmful contaminants.

Directs the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services to establish a program for individuals to receive free drug test strips to detect the presence of medetomidine, benzodiazepine, nitazenes, and/or other harmful contaminants; directs the commissioner of the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services, in cooperation with the commissioner of the department of health, to develop and conduct a public awareness and educational campaign on the dangers of medetomidine, benzodiazepine, nitazenes, and/or other harmful contaminants.

Establishes a wound care kit and xylazine test strip distribution program to supply wound care kits designed for the treatment of injection-related wounds and skin and soft tissue infections, and xylazine test strips, to individuals with a substance use disorder or who are otherwise at risk of drug use, free of charge; prohibits facilities from collecting personally identifying information on such individuals; prohibits police from targeting individuals receiving wound care kits or xylazine test strips under such program.

Provides that any volunteer agency who is granted state aid by the office of addiction services and supports or pursuant to a contract with a local governmental unit shall receive the full amount of such state aid within sixty days from approval; provides that volunteer agencies shall have two years to spend such aid.