54-38-05. Duties of department

54-38-05. Duties of department The department shall: 1. Study alcoholism and drug abuse and related problems, including methods and facilities available for the care, custody, detention, treatment, employment, and rehabilitation of resident alcoholics and drug dependent persons. 2. Promote meetings and programs for the discussion of alcoholism and drug abuse or any of their aspects, disseminate information on the subject of alcoholism and drug abuse for the guidance and assistance of individuals, courts, and public or private agencies for the prevention of alcoholism and drug abuse, and inform and educate the general public on problems of alcoholism and drug abuse, their prevention and treatment, to the end that alcoholism and drug abuse may be prevented and that persons suffering from alcoholism or drug dependency may be disposed to seek available treatment. 3. Conduct, promote, and finance, in full or in part, studies, investigations, and research, independently or in cooperation with universities, colleges, scientific organizations, and public or private agencies. 4. Accept for examination, diagnosis, guidance, and treatment, insofar as funds permit, any resident of the state coming to the department of that person's own volition for advice and guidance. For purposes of this subsection, "any resident" includes veterans and nonveterans who have a brain injury. 5. Establish, from time to time, policies governing the evaluation, acceptance, care, and treatment of alcoholics and drug dependent persons. 6. Develop, through consultation with the director of the department of transportation, a policy governing programs for persons who, subsequent to being convicted for traffic offenses, are referred to educational courses on alcohol, drugs, and driving.