Terms Used In Louisiana Children's Code 1401

  • Substance abuse: means the condition of a person who uses narcotic, stimulant, depressant, soporific, tranquilizing, or hallucinogenic drugs or alcohol to the extent that it renders the person dangerous to himself or others or renders the person gravely disabled. See Louisiana Children's Code 1404
  • Treatment: means an active effort to accomplish an improvement in the mental condition or behavior of a patient or to prevent deterioration in his condition or behavior. See Louisiana Children's Code 1404
  • Treatment facility: means any public or private hospital, retreat, institution, mental health center, or facility licensed by the state of Louisiana in which any mentally ill minor or minor suffering from substance abuse is received or detained as a patient except a facility under the control or supervision of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections unless otherwise provided in Title VIII of this Code. See Louisiana Children's Code 1404

The purpose of this Title is to facilitate the proper treatment of children suffering from mental illness or substance abuse.  The manner of treatment should be medically appropriate, least restrictive of the child’s liberty, and respectful of the child’s individual rights.  A preference for outpatient treatment should prevail unless the admission to a treatment facility is determined necessary for the recovery of the child from the mental illness or substance abuse.

Acts 1991, No. 235, §14, eff. Jan. 1, 1992.