There was a time in California when Substance Use Disorder (SUD) sufferers had little chance to get the help they desperately needed. They were imprisoned, sent out into the streets, and abandoned.

Thankfully, California has since passed statutes and safety codes that have led the way in SUD patient rights and inspired change across the U.S.

Below is a list of some of the laws and amendments that went the furthest to help SUD patients:

1961: Civil Addict Program

California used the CAP to create the first civil response system to the narcotics addiction crisis in the U.S. The system allowed authorities to send violators to rehabilitation centers and take part in outpatient therapy during parole. The CAP, supported by the now-repealed Penal Code Chapter 11, has been absorbed into other legislation. Since then, it has inspired many subsequent California laws, including many Welfare & Institutions Codes and Health and Safety Codes. It was also a guideline for the nation’s response to the drug crisis.

1984: Health & Safety Code § 11834  Regulating Drug Rehabs

This chapter of legislation contains much of the important groundwork for future legal relief for SUD patients. It defines what a rehab facility is, how it should be licensed, and how often it should be reinspected. It also clearly explains the types of services only licensed facilities, such as detox centers, can administer. The codes take aim at treatment programs that offer services they aren’t qualified to administer. The focus is to protect patients.

2000: Proposition 36 Drug Treatment Instead of Jail Time
The Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act gave California courts a new option when dealing with drug arrests. Defendants with non-violent offenses could receive probation that included mandatory drug treatment. Upon completion, participants could get their charges dismissed. Critically, the statute set up a fund to help counties pay for drug rehab programs. That statute was codified in the Health & Safety Code and the California Penal Code.

2014: AB 1535 Narcan Available at Pharmacies

This amendment to Civil Code §1714.22 allowed California pharmacists to provide Naloxone (NARCAN is the brand name) to people who didn’t have a traditional prescription. Pharmacists who completed one hour of training could distribute overdose antagonists. This new accessibility has likely saved millions of lives.

2014: Proposition 47 More Money for Drug Treatment Programs

The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act changed low-level drug possession (under $950) from a felony to a misdemeanor charge. This kept low-level drug offenders out of prison. The savings were then diverted to drug rehab programs and prevention. A change to the law in 2024 also forces certain felony drug offenders to receive mandatory SUD therapy.

2023: SB 43 Involuntary Treatment for SUD Patients
An amendment to the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act that allocated involuntary treatment for the “gravely disabled.” This bill moved to place those with severe drug use disorders on that list. This includes patients with a dual diagnosis of SUD and mental health disorders. The bill made it possible to force SUD patients to get treatment when the person “…is unable to provide for their basic personal needs for food, clothing, or shelter or has been found mentally incompetent, as specified.”

2024 – Proposition 1 Funding for SUD Treatment and Expanding Staffing

Known as The Behavioral Health Services Act & Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond. This statute, as part of SB 326 and AB 531, replaced 2004’s Mental Health Services Act. Proposition 1 expanded behavioral health care and housing for vulnerable populations, now to include patients who only have SUD. Funding was provided to train and hire a larger behavioral health workforce.

December 2024 – Prop 36 Treatment Mandated Felonies

Repeat drug offenders charged with possession of hard drugs can be hit with a “treatment-mandated felony. This would apply to suspects with two prior drug convictions. Offenders are allowed to complete court-supervised drug treatment and earn a felony dismissal. Courts are now also mandated to warn drug dealers that they could be convicted of murder charges if someone dies due to drug trafficking they were involved in.

2026 (pending): AB 2614 Public health:

SB 1228 passed in 2018 already prohibits licensed or certified drug and alcohol recovery programs from paying for referrals, a practice known as body brokering. It is meant to keep treatment facilities, their employees, or owners from offering money to agents who direct patients to a certain rehab facility. Accepting this money to steer patients coming out of a detox facility to another location is also illegal. The Body Brokering and Patient Referral Integrity Act (AB 2614) would create stiffer penalties for violators at detox centers or Sober Living Homes.  AB 2614 remains in committee as of Sept. 2026.