### §2401. Congressional findings

The Congress finds and declares that—

(1) the Federal Government has a historical relationship and unique legal and moral responsibility to Indian tribes and their members,

(2) included in this responsibility is the treaty, statutory, and historical obligation to assist the Indian tribes in meeting the health and social needs of their members,

(3) alcoholism and alcohol and substance abuse is the most severe health and social problem facing Indian tribes and people today and nothing is more costly to Indian people than the consequences of alcohol and substance abuse measured in physical, mental, social, and economic terms,

(4) alcohol and substance abuse is the leading generic risk factor among Indians, and Indians die from alcoholism at over 4 times the age-adjusted rates for the United States population and alcohol and substance misuse results in a rate of years of potential life lost nearly 5 times that of the United States,

(5) 4 of the top 10 causes of death among Indians are alcohol and drug related injuries (18 percent of all deaths), chronic liver disease and cirrhosis (5 percent), suicide (3 percent), and homicide (3 percent),

(6) primarily because deaths from unintentional injuries and violence occur disproportionately among young people, the age-specific death rate for Indians is approximately double the United States rate for the 15 to 45 age group,

(7) Indians between the ages of 15 and 24 years of age are more than 2 times as likely to commit suicide as the general population and approximately 80 percent of those suicides are alcohol-related,

(8) Indians between the ages of 15 and 24 years of age are twice as likely as the general population to die in automobile accidents, 75 percent of which are alcohol-related,

(9) the Indian Health Service, which is charged with treatment and rehabilitation efforts, has directed only 1 percent of its budget for alcohol and substance abuse problems,

(10) the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which has responsibility for programs in education, social services, law enforcement, and other areas, has assumed little responsibility for coordinating its various efforts to focus on the epidemic of alcohol and substance abuse among Indian people,

(11) this lack of emphasis and priority continues despite the fact that Bureau of Indian Affairs and Indian Health Service officials publicly acknowledge that alcohol and substance abuse among Indians is the most serious health and social problem facing the Indian people, and

(12) the Indian tribes have the primary responsibility for protecting and ensuring the well-being of their members and the resources made available under this chapter will assist Indian tribes in meeting that responsibility.

(Pub. L. 99–570, title IV, §4202, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–137.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in par. (12), was in the original "this subtitle", meaning subtitle C of title IV of Pub. L. 99–570, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–137, known as the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1986, which is classified generally to this chapter. For complete classification of subtitle C to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables.

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Short Title

Pub. L. 99–570, title IV, §4201, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–137, provided that: "This subtitle [subtitle C (§§4201–4230) of title IV of Pub. L. 99–570, enacting this chapter, amending section 1302 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1302 of this title] may be cited as the 'Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1986'."

#### Rule of Construction for Pub. L. 100–690

Pub. L. 100–690, title II, §2219, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4222, provided that: "Except as otherwise provided in this Act or the amendments made by this Act [see Tables for classification], nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall be construed to affect the obligation of the United States to any Indian or Indian tribe arising out of any treaty, statute, Executive order, or the trust responsibility of the United States owing to such Indian or Indian tribe. Nothing in this section shall exempt any individual Indian from the sanctions of 'user accountability' provided for elsewhere in this Act: Provided, That no individual Indian shall be denied any benefit under Federal Indian programs comparable to those 'means tested' safety net programs otherwise excluded under this Act."