Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part I - General Administration
Subpart 1 - General
Chapter 3 - Meetings of Self-Help Organizations Dedicated to Recovery and Abstinence from Alcohol and Drugs in DHHR Facilities
Section I-301 - Purpose, Scope and Applicability

A. It is the policy of the Department of Health and Human Resources to encourage members of self-help groups, such as, but not limited to, Alcoholic Anonymous (AA), Narcotic Anonymous (N.A.), Tough Love, Women For Sobriety (W.F.S.) and other bonafide self-help organizations dedicated to recovery and abstinence from alcohol and drugs to establish regularly scheduled meetings in the department's general hospitals with alcoholism and drug abuse treatment programs, in mental health hospitals with such programs, and in outpatient facilities operated and managed by OPRADA; and where appropriate, to support patient access to community based meetings of such self-help groups.

B. The Office of Prevention and Recovery from Alcohol and Drug Abuse is directed to develop written guidelines to assist DHHR facilities and members of self-help groups in initiating a plan of cooperation for implementing viable self-help groups within the department's general hospitals, mental hospitals, and OPRADA community treatment facilities. These guidelines shall incorporate a statement of the department's commitment to utilize the A.A./N.A. and other bonafide self-help recovery programs in its treatment of persons with alcohol and drug problems; provisions for designating a DHHR staff person to serve as liaison with these groups, and with volunteer members of such groups; recommendations for format and content of formal agreements between DHHR facilities and group volunteers conducting group meetings, such as: support of patient participation, protection of patients' rights, confidentiality, specific agreement on time, place conduct of meeting, responsibilities of facilities' staff and volunteers and facilities' security.

C. These guidelines shall also address recommended provisions for patients' access to community based self-help group meetings. In developing these guidelines, OPRADA shall be mindful of the department's ultimate responsibility for the patient, responsibility which cannot be subject to contradictory decisions by self-help group representatives.