SB 2240 Summary

• Replaces outdated terminology "chemical dependency" and "habitual drunkard" with modern language "substance use disorder" throughout North Dakota Century Code, affecting mental health, treatment, and medical licensing statutes.

• Updates definitions in mental health treatment law to characterize substance use disorder as an illness with maladaptive patterns of alcohol or drug use resulting in social, occupational, psychological, or physical problems.

• Modernizes references in professional licensing statutes for podiatrists and physicians to use "addiction evaluation" instead of "chemical dependency" evaluation terminology.

• Applies terminology changes to child protective services statutes regarding prenatal exposure to controlled substances and alcohol abuse reporting requirements.

• Includes technical amendments to guardianship, therapist definitions, and interstate mental health treatment contract provisions to align with updated substance use disorder language.