Bill > HB1790

This bill expands the legal definition of "mental illness" to include impairments caused by substance use disorder, which is defined as the chronic or habitual consumption of controlled substances or toxic vapors that substantially injures a person's health or interferes with their social or economic functioning. Specifically, the bill modifies existing mental health laws to allow for involuntary emergency and nonemergency admissions of individuals with substance use disorders who meet certain clinical criteria. The expanded definition applies to both emergency and non-emergency involuntary treatment situations, allowing medical professionals and courts to evaluate a person's potential danger to themselves or others when the impairment stems from substance use. The bill excludes certain conditions from this definition, such as epilepsy, intellectual disability, and alcohol-related intoxication or addiction. The changes will take effect on January 1, 2027, providing time for healthcare systems and legal frameworks to prepare for the new guidelines. The bill aims to provide additional medical intervention options for individuals whose substance use disorder severely impacts their mental functioning and potential risk to themselves or others.

Health and Social Services

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=2211&inflect=2