Department of Human Services. Division of Substance Abuse

The agency was known by four different names: the Board on Alcoholism (1947-1967), the Committee on Alcoholism (1967-1971), the Division of Alcoholism and Drugs (1971-1988), and the Division of Substance Abuse (1988-2002).

The original Board on Alcoholism was created to investigate the causes of alcoholism and provide education about the causes and treatment of alcoholism. Board members were authorized to cooperate with Alcoholics Anonymous as well as state agencies.

The independent State Board on Alcoholism was again charged with the same functions and empowered to provide a wide range of educational materials and to furnish hospital care and treatment for alcoholics who were unable to provide themselves with such treatment. The 1957 legislature provided for the financing of new programs through an increase in liquor permit fees. Lawmakers in 1967 delegated all of the functions, powers, duties, rights, and responsibilities of the State Board on Alcoholism to the Committee on Alcoholism. The functions of the Committee on Alcoholism and those of the year-old Division of Drugs were assumed by the newly formed Division of Alcoholism and Drugs in 1971.

The Division of Substance Abuse functioned primarily as a coordinating, consultive agency and acts as the single state authority for the federal funding of both alcoholism and drug abuse programs. According to legislative intent, the division was responsible for educating the general public regarding the problems of alcoholism and drugs, including certification of instructors in such programs, establishing community-based preventive programs, promoting cooperative relations among agencies that deal with or serve alcohol or drug abusers, and operating or promoting the establishment of public and private clinics and rehabilitation services. The division was authorized in 1988 to provide for the inspection and proper operation of such facilities.

The division was directed not to duplicate treatment or educational facilities already being provided by other government and private groups, but to work in conjunction with existing units. The division contracted with public and private drug units to conduct its operations. Passage of the Public Intoxication Treatment Act in 1981 authorized the division to promote or establish programs for publicly intoxicated persons in order to provide an alternative to incarceration. A 1985 amendment allowed the division to designate, upon request, county commissioners as the local alcohol and drug authority for their county. Alcohol and drug prevention and treatment services in such counties, as of 1990 all except Rich and Wasatch, were provided by the individual counties or in conjunction with other counties. Each local alcohol and drug authority plan for funding and service delivery was reviewed by the division. If the plan included state funds, the county had to establish and maintain programs only in coordination and cooperation with the division director. The division had no law enforcement duties but was to cooperate with the law enforcement agencies in drug abuse control.

The Division of Substance Abuse was under the administration and general direction of a division director and under the policy direction of the Board of Substance Abuse (UTSVH00039-A). The division director was appointed by the executive director of the Department of Human Services (UTSVH01116-A) with the concurrence of the board and was required by statute to be experienced in administration and knowledgeable in matters concerning substance abuse. Prior to 1988, the division director was appointed by the board. The director also served on the interdepartmental coordinating council on alcohol and drug programs (1970-88).

The Board of Alcoholism was statutorily created within the Department of Public Welfare (UTSVH01284-A) in 1947 by the 27th State Legislature. It became an independent body in 1949. In 1967, lawmakers renamed the Board on Alcoholism the Committee on Alcoholism and placed it within the Division of Health (UTSVH00484-A). Upon recommendation of the Drug Abuse Evaluation Committee, formed in 1969, the 38th State Legislature created the Division of Drugs within the renamed Department of Social Services during the 1970 budget session. The Division of Drugs was combined with the Committee on Alcoholism in 1971 to form the Division of Alcoholism and Drugs, as recommended by Governor Calvin L. Rampton. Amendments to the Social Services Act in 1988 included changing the name to the Division of Substance Abuse and termination of the interdepartmental coordinating council on alcoholism and drug programs (established in 1970). The Fifth Special Session of the 2002 Legislature (HB 5008) abolished the division by combining it with the Division of Mental Health in 2002 to create the new Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (#3195).