Section 70.96A.020. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Alcoholism" means a disease, characterized by a dependency on alcoholic beverages, loss of control over the amount and circumstances of use, symptoms of tolerance, physiological or psychological withdrawal, or both, if use is reduced or discontinued, and impairment of health or disruption of social or economic functioning.

(2) "Approved substance use disorder treatment program" means a program for persons with a substance use disorder provided by a treatment program certified by the department of social and health services as meeting standards adopted under this chapter.

(3) "Behavioral health organization" means a county authority or group of county authorities or other entity recognized by the secretary in contract in a defined regional service area.

(4) "Behavioral health program" has the same meaning as in RCW 71.24.025.

(5) "Behavioral health services" means mental health services as described in chapters 71.24 and 71.36 RCW and chemical dependency treatment services as described in this chapter.

(6) "Chemical dependency" means: (a) Alcoholism; (b) drug addiction; or (c) dependence on alcohol and one or more other psychoactive chemicals, as the context requires.

(7) "Commitment" means the determination by a court that a person should be detained for a period of either evaluation or treatment, or both, in an inpatient or a less restrictive setting.

(8) "Department" means the department of social and health services.

(9) "Designated chemical dependency specialist" or "specialist" means a person designated by the behavioral health organization or by the county substance use disorder treatment program coordinator designated by the behavioral health organization to perform the commitment duties described in RCW 70.96A.140 and qualified to do so by meeting standards adopted by the department.

(10) "Drug addiction" means a disease characterized by a dependency on psychoactive chemicals, loss of control over the amount and circumstances of use, symptoms of tolerance, physiological or psychological withdrawal, or both, if use is reduced or discontinued, and impairment of health or disruption of social or economic functioning.

(11) "Gravely disabled by alcohol or other psychoactive chemicals" or "gravely disabled" means that a person, as a result of the use of alcohol or other psychoactive chemicals: (a) Is in danger of serious physical harm resulting from a failure to provide for his or her essential human needs of health or safety; or (b) manifests severe deterioration in routine functioning evidenced by a repeated and escalating loss of cognition or volitional control over his or her actions and is not receiving care as essential for his or her health or safety.

(12) "History of one or more violent acts" refers to the period of time ten years prior to the filing of a petition under this chapter, excluding any time spent, but not any violent acts committed, in a mental health facility, or a long-term alcoholism or drug treatment facility, or in confinement.

(13) "Incapacitated by alcohol or other psychoactive chemicals" means that a person, as a result of the use of alcohol or other psychoactive chemicals, is gravely disabled or presents a likelihood of serious harm to himself or herself, to any other person, or to property.

(14) "Incompetent person" means a person who has been adjudged incompetent by the superior court.

(15) "Intoxicated person" means a person whose mental or physical functioning is substantially impaired as a result of the use of alcohol or other psychoactive chemicals.

(16) "Licensed physician" means a person licensed to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine and surgery in the state of Washington.

(17) "Likelihood of serious harm" means:

(a) A substantial risk that: (i) Physical harm will be inflicted by an individual upon his or her own person, as evidenced by threats or attempts to commit suicide or inflict physical harm on one's self; (ii) physical harm will be inflicted by an individual upon another, as evidenced by behavior that has caused the harm or that places another person or persons in reasonable fear of sustaining the harm; or (iii) physical harm will be inflicted by an individual upon the property of others, as evidenced by behavior that has caused substantial loss or damage to the property of others; or

(b) The individual has threatened the physical safety of another and has a history of one or more violent acts.

(18) "Medical necessity" for inpatient care of a minor means a requested certified inpatient service that is reasonably calculated to: (a) Diagnose, arrest, or alleviate a chemical dependency; or (b) prevent the progression of substance use disorders that endanger life or cause suffering and pain, or result in illness or infirmity or threaten to cause or aggravate a handicap, or cause physical deformity or malfunction, and there is no adequate less restrictive alternative available.

(19) "Mental health professional" means a psychiatrist, psychologist, physician assistant working with a supervising psychiatrist, psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner, psychiatric nurse, or social worker, and such other mental health professionals as may be defined by rules adopted by the secretary pursuant to the provisions of chapter 71.05 RCW.

(20) "Minor" means a person less than eighteen years of age.

(21) "Parent" means the parent or parents who have the legal right to custody of the child. Parent includes custodian or guardian.

(22) "Peace officer" means a law enforcement official of a public agency or governmental unit, and includes persons specifically given peace officer powers by any state law, local ordinance, or judicial order of appointment.

(23) "Person" means an individual, including a minor.

(24) "Physician assistant" means a person licensed as a physician assistant under chapter 18.57A or 18.71A RCW.

(25) "Professional person in charge" or "professional person" means a physician or chemical dependency counselor as defined in rule by the department, who is empowered by a certified treatment program with authority to make assessment, admission, continuing care, and discharge decisions on behalf of the certified program.

(26) "Psychiatric advanced registered nurse practitioner" means a person who is licensed as an advanced registered nurse practitioner pursuant to chapter 18.79 RCW; and who is board certified in advanced practice psychiatric and mental health nursing.

(27) "Secretary" means the secretary of the department of social and health services.

(28) "Substance use disorder" means a cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that an individual continues using the substance despite significant substance-related problems. The diagnosis of a substance use disorder is based on a pathological pattern of behaviors related to the use of the substances.

(29) "Substance use disorder treatment program" means an organization, institution, or corporation, public or private, engaged in the care, treatment, or rehabilitation of persons with substance use disorders.

(30) "Treatment" means the broad range of emergency, withdrawal management, residential, and outpatient services and care, including diagnostic evaluation, substance use disorder education and counseling, medical, psychiatric, psychological, and social service care, vocational rehabilitation and career counseling, which may be extended to persons with substance use disorders and their families, persons incapacitated by alcohol or other psychoactive chemicals, and intoxicated persons.

(31) "Violent act" means behavior that resulted in homicide, attempted suicide, nonfatal injuries, or substantial damage to property.

[ 2016 1st sp.s. c 29 § 101. Prior: 2014 c 225 § 20; 2001 c 13 § 1; 1998 c 296 § 22; prior: 1996 c 178 § 23; 1996 c 133 § 33; 1994 c 231 § 1; 1991 c 364 § 8; 1990 c 151 § 2; prior: 1989 c 271 § 305; 1989 c 270 § 3; 1972 ex.s. c 122 § 2.]

NOTES:

Reviser's note: The definitions in this section have been alphabetized pursuant to RCW 1.08.015(2)(k).

Short title—Right of action—2016 1st sp.s. c 29: See notes following RCW 71.05.010.

Effective date—2014 c 225: See note following RCW 71.24.016.

Severability—2001 c 13: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 2001 c 13 § 5.]

Findings—Intent—Part headings not law—Short title—1998 c 296: See notes following RCW 74.13.025.

Effective date—1996 c 178: See note following RCW 18.35.110.

Findings—Short title—Intent—Construction—1996 c 133: See notes following RCW 13.32A.197.

Effective date—1994 c 231: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [April 1, 1994]." [ 1994 c 231 § 3.]

Findings—1991 c 364: "The legislature finds that the use of alcohol and illicit drugs continues to be a primary crippler of our youth. This translates into incredible costs to individuals, families, and society in terms of traffic fatalities, suicides, criminal activity including homicides, sexual promiscuity, familial incorrigibility, and conduct disorders, and educational fallout. Among children of all socioeconomic groups lower expectations for the future, low motivation and self-esteem, alienation, and depression are associated with alcohol and drug abuse.

Studies reveal that deaths from alcohol and other drug-related injuries rise sharply through adolescence, peaking in the early twenties. But second peak occurs in later life, where it accounts for three times as many deaths from chronic diseases. A young victim's life expectancy is likely to be reduced by an average of twenty-six years.

Yet the cost of treating alcohol and drug addicts can be recouped in the first three years of abstinence in health care savings alone. Public money spent on treatment saves not only the life of the chemical abuser, it makes us safer as individuals, and in the long-run costs less.

The legislature further finds that many children who abuse alcohol and other drugs may not require involuntary treatment, but still are not adequately served. These children remain at risk for future chemical dependency, and may become mentally ill or a juvenile offender or need out-of-home placement. Children placed at risk because of chemical abuse may be better served by the creation of a comprehensive integrated system for children in crisis.

The legislature declares that an emphasis on the treatment of youth will pay the largest dividend in terms of preventable costs to individuals themselves, their families, and to society. The provision of augmented involuntary alcohol treatment services to youths, as well as involuntary treatment for youths addicted by other drugs, is in the interest of the public health and safety." [ 1991 c 364 § 7.]

Construction—1991 c 364 §§ 7-12: "The purpose of sections 7 through 12 of this act is solely to provide authority for the involuntary commitment of minors addicted by drugs within available funds and current programs and facilities. Nothing in sections 7 through 12 of this act shall be construed to require the addition of new facilities nor affect the department's authority for the uses of existing programs and facilities authorized by law. Nothing in sections 7 through 12 of this act shall prevent a parent or guardian from requesting the involuntary commitment of a minor through a county designated chemical dependency specialist on an ability to pay basis." [ 1991 c 364 § 13.]

Conflict with federal requirements—1991 c 364: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act in its application to the agencies concerned. The rules under this act shall meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state." [ 1991 c 364 § 15.]

Severability—1989 c 271: See note following RCW 9.94A.510.

2016 1st sp.s. c 29 § 101. Prior: 2014 c 225 § 20; 2001 c 13 § 1; 1998 c 296 § 22; prior: 1996 c 178 § 23; 1996 c 133 § 33; 1994 c 231 § 1; 1991 c 364 § 8; 1990 c 151 § 2; prior: 1989 c 271 § 305; 1989 c 270 § 3; 1972 ex.s. c 122 § 2.