2023 Maryland Statutes › Health - General › Title 7.5 - Behavioral Health Administration › Subtitle 1 - Definitions; General Provisions › Section 7.5-101 - Definitions

(a)    In this title the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)    (1)    “Addictive disorder” means a chronic disorder of the brain’s reward–activation system in which  the individual pathologically pursues reward or relief by substance use or other behaviors, with diminished control, and the individual persists in the behavior despite adverse consequences.
(2)    “Addictive disorder” includes gambling, which is the only nonsubstance–related addictive disorder recognized by Maryland law.
(c)    “Administration” means the Behavioral Health Administration.
(d)    “Behavioral health” includes substance–related disorders, addictive disorders, and mental disorders.
(e)    “Behavioral health care” includes prevention, screening, early intervention, treatment, recovery, support, wraparound, and rehabilitation services, for individuals with substance–related disorders, addictive disorders, mental disorders, or a combination of these disorders.
(f)    “Behavioral health program” means a substance–related disorders program, a mental health program, or an addictive disorders program, or a program that consists of more than one of these programs.
(g)    “Core service agency” means the designated county or multicounty authority that is responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring publicly funded mental health services.
(h)    “Director” means the Director of the Administration.
(i)    “Family support services” means a set of nonclinical activities provided by family members of individuals with mental health or substance–related disorders and addictive disorders to support individuals with mental health or substance–related disorders and addictive disorders or their families.
(j)    “Local addictions authority” means the designated county or multicounty authority that is responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring publicly funded substance–related disorders and addictive disorder services.
(k)    “Local behavioral health authority” means the designated county or multicounty authority that is responsible for planning, managing, and monitoring publicly funded mental health, substance–related disorder, and addictive disorder services.
(l)    (1)    “Mental disorder” means a behavioral or emotional illness that results from a psychiatric  disorder.
(2)    “Mental disorder” includes a mental illness that so substantially impairs the mental or emotional functioning of an individual as to make care or treatment necessary or advisable for the welfare of the individual or for the safety of the person or property of another.
(3)    “Mental disorder” does not include an intellectual disability.
(m)    “Mental health program” means a set of services that consists of community–based treatment, care, or rehabilitation services, or any combination of these, for individuals with a mental disorder.
(n)    “Peer support services” means a set of nonclinical activities provided by individuals in recovery from mental disorders, substance–related disorders, or addictive disorders who use their personal, lived experiences and training to support other individuals with mental disorders, substance–related disorders, or addictive disorders.
(o)    “Recovery residence” means a service that:
(1)    Provides alcohol–free and illicit–drug–free housing to individuals with substance–related disorders or addictive disorders or co–occurring mental disorders and substance–related disorders or addictive disorders; and
(2)    Does not include clinical treatment services.
(p)    (1)    “Substance–related disorder” means:
(i)    An alcohol use disorder, alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, alcohol misuse, alcohol intoxication, or alcohol withdrawal;
(ii)    A nonalcohol substance use disorder, drug dependence, drug misuse, nonalcohol substance induced intoxication, or nonalcohol substance withdrawal; or
(iii)    Any combination of the disorders listed in items (i) and (ii) of this paragraph.
(2)    “Substance–related disorder” includes substance use disorders and substance induced disorders.
(q)    “Substance–related disorders program” means a set of services that:
(1)    Are community–based, including those services provided by the State or any of its political subdivisions; and
(2)    Consist of:
(i)    Any combination of treatment, care, or rehabilitation for individuals with a substance–related disorder; or
(ii)    Education for individuals known to be at risk of developing substance–related disorders.