(a) An alcohol-dependent person or a drug-dependent person may apply for voluntary treatment directly to a treatment facility operated by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. If the proposed patient is a minor or an incompetent person, he, a parent, a legal guardian or other legal representative may make the application.

(b) Subject to regulations adopted by the department, the administrator of a treatment facility operated by the department may determine, on the advice of the medical officer of the facility, who shall be admitted for treatment. If a person is refused admission to a treatment facility operated by the department, the administrator, subject to regulations adopted by the department, shall refer the person to another treatment facility operated by the department or to a private treatment facility for treatment if possible and appropriate.

(c) If a patient receiving inpatient care leaves a treatment facility operated by the department, he shall be encouraged to consent to appropriate outpatient or intermediate treatment. If it appears to the administrator in charge of the treatment facility, on the advice of the medical officer of the facility, that the patient is an alcohol-dependent person or drug-dependent person who requires help, the department shall arrange for assistance in obtaining supportive services and residential facilities.

(d) If a patient leaves a treatment facility operated by the department, with or against the advice of the administrator of the facility, the department shall make reasonable provisions for his transportation to another facility or to his home. If he has no home, he shall be assisted in obtaining shelter. If he is a minor or an incompetent person, the request for discharge from an inpatient facility shall be made by a parent, legal guardian or other legal representative or by the minor or incompetent person if he was the original applicant.

(P.A. 74-280, S. 10, 25; P.A. 75-528, S. 6, 15; 75-569, S. 3, 5; P.A. 86-371, S. 4, 45; P.A. 90-209, S. 4; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-435, S. 59, 95; P.A. 95-257, S. 5, 58.)

History: P.A. 75-528 and P.A. 75-569 substituted “licensed” facilities for “approved” facilities and deleted word “unemancipated” with reference to minors in Subsecs. (a) and (d); P.A. 86-371 substituted references to the commission for references to the commissioner and department of mental health; P.A. 90-209 substituted “alcohol-dependent person” for “alcoholic”, provided that drug-dependent persons be allowed to apply for voluntary treatment under the section rather than repealed Sec. 19a-378, substituted “treatment facility operated by the commission” for “licensed public treatment facility”, provided that the administrator's determinations in Subsec. (b) of who shall be admitted and in Subsec. (c) of who is a patient who requires help be on the advice of the medical officer of the facility and made technical changes; Sec. 17-155t transferred to Sec. 17a-624 in 1991; P.A. 93-381 and P.A. 93-435 replaced Connecticut alcohol and drug abuse commission with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17a-624 transferred to Sec. 19a-126b in 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, effective July 1, 1995; Sec. 19a-126b transferred to Sec. 17a-682 in 1997.