ARTICLE 1. Statement of Problems Related to the Inappropriate Use of Alcoholic Beverages and Other Drug Use and the Reasons for and Limitations on State Government’s Role [11760. - 11760.2.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 1.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11760. Section 11760.

The Legislature finds and declares that problems related to the inappropriate use of alcoholic beverages and other drug use adversely affect the general welfare of the people of California. These problems include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) Substantial fatalities, permanent disability, and property damage resulting from driving under the influence. Crimes involving alcohol and other drug use are a drain on law enforcement, the courts, and the penal system. (b) Alcoholism in the individual, which is an addiction to the drug alcohol, with its attendant deterioration of physical and emotional health and social well-being. (c) Alcoholism and other drug use in the family with its attendant deterioration of all relationships and the well-being of family members. (d) A risk of increased susceptibility to serious illnesses and other major health problems that ultimately create additional costs and use of resources from both public and private health facilities and entities. (e) A risk of fetal alcohol syndrome. (f) Losses in production and tax revenues due to absenteeism, unemployment, and industrial accidents.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11760.1. Section 11760.1.

The Legislature recognizes that any efforts to address the problems related to inappropriate alcohol use and other drug use are greatly hindered by: (a) The stigmatization of persons who have alcohol and other drug problems. (b) Denial by the individual and the community, especially among members of the professional community, sometimes referred to as gatekeepers, regarding the nature and scope of alcohol and other drug problems. (c) Services that, if uncoordinated, often are conflicting, inappropriate, ineffective, duplicative, and wasteful of limited public and private resources. (d) Actions and attitudes that encourage consumption of alcoholic beverages in California, which consumption leads to alcohol problems. (e) Actions and attitudes that encourage illicit drug use.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11760.2. Section 11760.2.

The Legislature finds that state government has an affirmative role in alleviating problems related to the inappropriate use of alcoholic beverages and other drug use and that its major objective is protection of the public health and safety, particularly where problems related to inappropriate alcohol use and other drug use are likely to cause harm to individuals, families, and the community.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026