§ 20-64-1101 - Findings -- Purpose. - Arkansas Statutes

20-64-1101. Findings -- Purpose.

(a) The General Assembly finds:

(1) There is a great need to develop and recommend long-range alternative means for reducing the ever-growing and costly demands on the substance abuse treatment and criminal justice systems in the State of Arkansas;

(2) Research models have demonstrated that the prevention of early initiation into alcohol and drug use and other risky behaviors requires a sustained community-wide effort;

(3) Community-wide substance abuse prevention efforts must target the life spectrum and must include efforts to curb the misuse of common household products, over-the-counter medications, prescription medicines, alcohol, and illegal substances;

(4) To date, very few state resources have been invested to prevent one of the most ubiquitous and costly issues confronting our state, that is, substance abuse;

(5) Most substance abuse prevention efforts within Arkansas have been at the mercy of the federal government rather than at the direction of the state; and

(6) Consequently, as federal resources wane, so do substance abuse prevention efforts throughout this state.

(b) The purpose of this subchapter is the improvement of substance abuse prevention programs in the state.