Maine § 20022. - Information dissemination

§ 20022.. Information dissemination

As part of its comprehensive prevention and treatment program, the department shall operate an information clearinghouse and oversee, support and coordinate a resource center within the Department of Education. The information clearinghouse and resource center constitute a comprehensive reference center of information related to the nature, prevention and treatment of substance use disorder. In fulfillment of the requirement of this section, the resource center may be located within the Department of Education and may operate there pursuant to a memorandum of agreement between the departments. Information must be available for use by the general public, political subdivisions, public and private nonprofit agencies and the State.   [PL 2017, c. 407, Pt. A, §34 (AMD).]

Functions of the information clearinghouse and resource center may include, but are not limited to:   [PL 1991, c. 601, §15 (AMD).]

1.  Research.  Conducting research on the causes and nature of drugs, substance use or people who are dependent on drugs or alcohol;

2.  Information collection.  Collecting, maintaining and disseminating knowledge, data and statistics related to drugs, substance use and substance use disorder prevention;

3.  Educational materials.  Preparing, publishing and disseminating educational materials; and

4.  Treatment facilities.  Maintaining an inventory of the types and quantity of substance use prevention facilities, programs and services available or provided under public or private auspices to persons with substance use disorder and drug users. This function includes the unduplicated count, locations and characteristics of persons receiving treatment, as well as the frequency of admission and readmission and the frequency and duration of treatment of those persons. The inventory must include the amount, type and source of resources for substance use disorder prevention.