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Rhode Island General Laws Title 21. Food and Drugs § 21-28.2-1. Definitions

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

Unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall be construed in this chapter to have the following meanings:

(1) “Department” means the department of health.

(2) “Director” means the director of the department of health.

(3) “Narcotic addict” means a person who is at the time of examination dependent upon opium, heroin, morphine, or any derivative or synthetic drug of that group or any other narcotic drug as defined in § 21-28-1.02, or a depressant or stimulant substance, or who by reason of the repeated use of any such drug is in imminent danger of becoming dependent upon opium, heroin, morphine, or any derivative or synthetic drug of that group, or any other narcotic drug as defined in § 21-28-1.02;  or any person who is or has been so far addicted to the use of narcotic drugs as to have lost the power of self-control with reference to his or her addiction;  provided, that no person shall be deemed a narcotic addict solely by virtue of his or her taking of any of the drugs pursuant to a lawful prescription issued by a physician in the course of professional treatment for legitimate medical purposes.  For the purpose of this section, “depressant or stimulant substance” means:

(i) A drug which contains any quantity of:  (A) barbituric acid or any of the salts of barbituric acid;  or (B) any derivative of barbituric acid which the director after investigation has found to be habit forming;

(ii) A drug which contains any quantity of:  (A) amphetamine or any of its optical isomers;  (B) any salt of amphetamine or any salt of an optical isomer of amphetamine;  or (C) any substance which the director, after investigation, has found to be and by regulation designated as habit forming because of its stimulant effect on the central nervous system;

(iii) Lysergic acid diethylamide;  or

(iv) Any drug which contains any quantity of a substance which the director, after investigation, has found to have and by regulation designated as having a potential for abuse because of its depressant or stimulant effect on the central nervous system or its hallucinogenic effect.

(4) “Police officer” means any municipal or state police officer or any employee of the department with police powers.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Rhode Island General Laws Title 21. Food and Drugs § 21-28.2-1. Definitions - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ri/title-21-food-and-drugs/ri-gen-laws-sect-21-28-2-1/

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