Ethics and the Law

The Current Law

In 1989 RCW 70.96A was given a major overhaul.  Much of the change can be seen in the new title given to the chapter.  Instead of being the Uniform Alcoholism and Intoxication Treatment Act, it was now to be called TREATMENT FOR ALCOHOLISM, INTOXICATION, AND DRUG ADDICTION.  While many other changes have occurred since, that revision remains the foundation for most of the law in place today. 

At the time of the 1989 overhaul, the AIDS epidemic was reaching out, struggling to climb above the national denial to be recognized as a crisis of humanity.  In addition, the slow merging of alcohol and drug treatment philosophies was evolving into a cohesive concept.  Treatment, the clinical relationship between a counseling professional and client, was becoming more than a 12-step program.  The law was changed to enable and strengthen that process.

The maturation of the field and society's vision of it are reflected in RCW 70.96A.011

"Legislative finding and intent -- Purpose of chapter.

The legislature finds that the use of alcohol and other drugs has become a serious threat to the health of the citizens of the state of Washington.  The use of psychoactive chemicals has been found to be a prime factor in the current AIDS epidemic.  Therefore, a comprehensive statute to deal with alcoholism and other drug addiction is necessary.

The legislature agrees with the 1987 resolution of the American Medical Association that endorses the proposition that all chemical dependencies, including alcoholism, are diseases.  It is the intent of the legislature to end the sharp distinctions between alcoholism services and other drug addiction services, to recognize that chemical dependency is a disease, and to insure that prevention and treatment services are available and are of high quality.  It is the purpose of this chapter to provide the financial assistance necessary to enable the department of social and health services to provide a discrete program of alcoholism and other drug addiction."

It is particularly important to note the reference to "alcoholism and other drug addition' through the passage.  That phrase reflects a progressive value that alcoholism is not a stand-alone condition, but simply one of many forms of chemical dependency.  For the first time, by law, alcoholics, heroin addicts, cocaine addicts, and everyone else plagued with a chemical addiction, were classified as having a common condition.

One other important phrase to note in this declaration of intent, is the reference to a "discrete program".  That phrase is found in other parts of the chapter and is a legacy of the hard-fought and painful legislative battle of 15 years earlier.  With that simple phrase, the treatment of chemical dependency and the programs authorized to practice that craft

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