The Legislature recognizes that any efforts to address the problems related to inappropriate alcohol use and other drug use are greatly hindered by:
- (a) The stigmatization of persons who have alcohol and other drug problems.
- (b) Denial by the individual and the community, especially among members of the professional community, sometimes referred to as gatekeepers, regarding the nature and scope of alcohol and other drug problems.
- (c) Services that, if uncoordinated, often are conflicting, inappropriate, ineffective, duplicative, and wasteful of limited public and private resources.
- (d) Actions and attitudes that encourage consumption of alcoholic beverages in California, which consumption leads to alcohol problems.
- (e) Actions and attitudes that encourage illicit drug use.