Substance use disorder.

Existing law, the California Uniform Controlled Substances Act, regulates the distribution and use of controlled substances, as defined. Under the act, the State Department of Health Care Services is responsible for the administration of prevention, treatment, and recovery services for alcohol and drug abuse. Existing law, the Medical Practice Act, provides for the licensing and regulation of physicians and surgeons by the Medical Board of California. Existing law authorizes a physician and surgeon to prescribe, dispense, or administer prescription drugs, including prescription controlled substances, to an addict under their treatment for a purpose other than maintenance on, or detoxification from, prescription drugs or controlled substances and under specified conditions to an addict for purposes of maintenance on, or detoxification from, prescription drugs or controlled substances. This bill would revise and recast these provisions, among others, to delete the reference to an "addict" and instead replace it with the term "a person with substance use disorder," among other technical nonsubstantive changes.