Title 44, Health

Section effective November 20, 2025. Unless the recovery housing is certified pursuant to this article, residency in such recovery housing may not: (1) be made part of any criminal sentence or made a condition of probation by a court having criminal jurisdiction in this State; (2…

Nothing in this article prohibits recovery housing that has not received certification from operating or advertising as recovery housing or from offering residence to persons recovering from substance use disorders.

It is unlawful for an owner or operator of recovery housing that is not certified pursuant to this article to advertise or otherwise represent that such recovery housing is certified pursuant to this article. An owner or operator of recovery housing who violates this section is s…

(A) The Office of Substance Use Services shall arrange for the exchange of information between governmental officials concerning the use and abuse of controlled substances. (B) Results, information, and evidence received from the Department of Health and Environmental Control rel…

It shall be the duty of all departments, officers, agencies, and employees of the State to cooperate with the Office of Substance Use Services in carrying out its functions. The Attorney General shall furnish such legal services as are necessary to the Office of Substance Use Ser…

The Office of Substance Use Services shall appoint a supervisor of adult education for the prevention of alcoholism, who shall be responsible for activating and implementing an adequate alcoholic education program for the citizens of this State above high school age. The program …

The Office of Substance Use Services shall furnish the supervisor of adult education for the prevention of alcoholism adequate ways and means to accomplish an effective educational program for the prevention of alcoholism in this State.

The Office of Substance Use Services shall establish a program to provide alcohol and drug abuse intervention, prevention, and treatment services for the public schools of the State. The office shall provide staff and support necessary to administer the program. Funds for this pr…

(1) "Chemical dependency" means a chronic disorder manifested by repeated use of alcohol or other drugs to an extent that it interferes with a person's health, social, or economic functioning; some degree of habituation, dependence, or addiction may be implied. (2) "Chemically de…

The individual for whom involuntary commitment is sought and all other persons required to receive notice may be present at the hearing. The court shall hear all relevant testimony, including the results of an examination or investigation required by the court. Counsel for the in…

A court ordered involuntary commitment for a chemically dependent person may not exceed a treatment period of ninety days' inpatient care. Court ordered treatment on an outpatient basis following inpatient treatment may not exceed a treatment period of one year. If, after clinica…

A patient at a treatment facility, including those committed under court order pursuant to Section 44-52-110, may be transferred to another facility providing care and treatment for chemically dependent persons when the head of the treatment facility determines that it is consist…

When the head of a treatment facility or unit considers it in the best interest of a patient he may permit the patient to leave the facility on a temporary leave of absence, which may be for a period of time as the head of the treatment facility or unit determines. The head of th…

If any patient involuntarily committed to a treatment facility is absent without permission a law enforcement officer may, upon written order of the head of the treatment facility and without the necessity of a warrant or court order, take the patient into custody and return him …

If a person who was involuntarily committed violates the conditions of his release including a failure to adhere to an outpatient treatment program as ordered by the court, the court may, upon a written affidavit of the head of the treatment facility or the director of a treatmen…

(A) It is unlawful for a patient receiving inpatient services in a program under the jurisdiction of the division in a treatment facility operated by the Office of Mental Health to possess alcoholic beverages, firearms, dangerous weapons, or controlled substances as defined by Se…

Any person who is sixteen years or older, appears to be and believes himself to be chemically dependent, may make written application for voluntary admission to a treatment facility. Application may be made on behalf of any person under sixteen years of age by the parent or legal…

The Office of Mental Health may prescribe the form of applications, reports, records, and medical certificates provided for under this chapter, and the information required to be contained; require reports from the head of any treatment facility relating to the admission, examina…

The Division shall establish a comprehensive and coordinated program of treatment for chemically dependent persons utilizing, to the extent financial resources allow, services of other state agencies, local facilities, and private treatment facilities. The program may include: (1…

The head of the treatment facility may discharge a patient who has sufficiently improved so that the head of the treatment facility determines that hospitalization of the patient is no longer necessary. The head of the treatment facility may also discharge any patient if to do so…

A voluntary patient, including a minor under the age of sixteen, who has admitted himself to a treatment facility, or a voluntary patient's personal representative, legal guardian, parent, spouse, or adult next of kin, or the parent or legal guardian of a minor on whose behalf ad…

It is the policy of the State to assist individuals with chemical dependency problems in ways consistent with the dignity, rights, and responsibilities of all South Carolina citizens. Within available resources, it is the duty of the State, in coordination with its local counterp…

Any adult person who believes that a person is chemically dependent and in need of emergency care and treatment may complete a written affidavit under oath stating: (1) that he believes the person is suffering from chemical dependency and, as a result of his condition, poses a su…

(A) Within forty-eight hours after admission, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, the place of admission shall forward the certificate of the physician as required by Section 44-52-50, the affidavit, a designated examiner appointment form listing the names of two…

If any time during the period of emergency commitment as ordered by the court, the head of the treatment facility, with the responsible physician concurring, concludes that the patient is stabilized and no longer requires inpatient hospitalization, he may request that the court a…

Judicial proceedings for the involuntary commitment of an individual may be initiated as follows: An adult person or head of a treatment facility under Section 44-52-40 may file a petition with the court in the county where the person is present or where he is a resident or of th…

After the filing of the petition with the court, the court shall give notice of the hearing to the following persons: (a) the individual for whom involuntary commitment is sought; (b) the parent, spouse, personal representative, or legal guardian, if any; (c) the person filing th…

The written reports filed with the court shall include, but not be limited to, questions relating to the chemical dependency alleged, whether or not the individual poses a substantial risk of physical harm to himself or others if allowed to remain at liberty, whether or not recen…

The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall take cognizance of the interest of the public health as it relates to the sale of drugs and the adulteration thereof and shall make all necessary inquiries and investigations relating thereto. For such purpose it may appoin…

As used in this article and Sections 44-49-10, 44-49-40, and 44-49-50: (1) "Administer" means the direct application of a controlled substance, whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other means, to the body of a patient or research subject by: (a) a practitioner (or…

No person shall, for the purpose of causing a condition of intoxication, inebriation, excitement, stupefaction or the dulling of his brain or nervous system, intentionally smell or inhale the fumes from any substance containing aromatic hydrocarbons; provided, that nothing in thi…

No person shall, for the purpose of violating Section 44-53-1110, use or possess for the purpose of so using, any substance containing aromatic hydrocarbons.

Any person who violates any provision of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed one hundred dollars or imprisoned for a term not to exceed thirty days.

The State Law Enforcement Division shall: (1) Cooperate with Federal and other State agencies in discharging its responsibilities concerning traffic in narcotics and controlled substances and in suppressing the abuse of dangerous substances; (2) Coordinate and cooperate in traini…

The term "dangerous caustic or corrosive substance" means each and all of the acids, alkalis and substances named below: (1) Hydrochloric acid and any preparation containing free or chemically unneutralized hydrochloric acid (HCL) in a concentration of ten per cent or more; (2) S…

No person shall sell, barter, exchange, receive, hold, pack or display or offer for sale, barter or exchange in the State any dangerous caustic or corrosive substance in a misbranded parcel, package or container designed for household use.

Any dangerous caustic or corrosive substance in a misbranded parcel, package or container for household use that is being sold, bartered or exchanged or held, displayed or offered for sale, barter or exchange shall be liable to be proceeded against in any magistrate's court and s…

The sheriff, deputy sheriffs and other peace officers shall enforce the provisions of this article and may approve and register such brands and labels intended for use under the provisions of this article as may be submitted to them for that purpose and as may in their judgment c…

Any person violating the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

The State Law Enforcement Division shall formulate a plan to coordinate the controlled substance enforcement effort from the local to the State level.

This article may be cited as the "Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Act".

As used in this article, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) "Accessible surface" means any protruding interior or exterior surface that a child can mouth or chew including, but not limited to, an interior windowsill. (2) "Child" or "children" means a person under six year…

The provisions of this article do not apply to items that are exempt pursuant to federal law.

(A) The department may establish a program for the early diagnosis of cases of childhood lead poisoning. The program must provide for systematic examination for lead poisoning of children at risk residing within the State. Examinations must be made by such means and at such inter…

The department may institute a childhood lead poisoning prevention education program. The program shall emphasize the dangers and sources of lead poisoning and the methods of lead poisoning prevention and lead-based hazard remediation.

(A) If a physician, hospital, public health nurse, or other diagnosing person or agency knows or has reason to believe that a child he or she examines or treats has or is suspected of having lead poisoning, the person shall notify the department within seven days. The department …