§ 201. Definitions

§ 201. Definitions

(a) The term “Service” means the Public Health Service;

(b) The term “Surgeon General” means the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service;

(c) Unless the context otherwise requires, the term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

(d) The term “regulations”, except when otherwise specified, means rules and regulations made by the Surgeon General with the approval of the Secretary;

(e) The term “executive department” means any executive department, agency, or independent establishment of the United States or any corporation wholly owned by the United States;

(f) Except as provided in sections 246(g)(4)(B),11 See References in Text note below. 247c(c)(1),1 254d(h)(3),1 263c(5),1 264(d), 292a(9),1 300a(c), 300f(13), and 300n(1) 1 of this title, the term “State” includes, in addition to the several States, only the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

(g) The term “possession” includes, among other possessions, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands;

(h) Repealed. Pub. L. 97–35, title IX, § 986(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 603.

(i) The term “vessel” includes every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water, exclusive of aircraft and amphibious contrivances;

(j) The term “habit-forming narcotic drug” or “narcotic” means opium and coca leaves and the several alkaloids derived therefrom, the best known of these alkaloids being morphia, heroin, and codeine, obtained from opium, and cocaine derived from the coca plant; all compounds, salts, preparations, or other derivatives obtained either from the raw material or from the various alkaloids; Indian hemp and its various derivatives, compounds, and preparations, and peyote in its various forms; isonipecaine and its derivatives, compounds, salts, and preparations; opiates (as defined in section 4731(g) ^1 of title 26);

(k) The term “addict” means any person who habitually uses any habit-forming narcotic drugs so as to endanger the public morals, health, safety, or welfare, or who is or has been so far addicted to the use of such habit-forming narcotic drugs as to have lost the power of self-control with reference to his addiction;

(l) The term “psychiatric disorders” includes diseases of the nervous system which affect mental health;

(m) The term “State mental health authority” means the State health authority, except that, in the case of any State in which there is a single State agency, other than the State health authority, charged with responsibility for administering the mental health program of the State, it means such other State agency;

(n) The term “heart diseases” means diseases of the heart and circulation;

(o) The term “dental diseases and conditions” means diseases and conditions affecting teeth and their supporting structures, and other related diseases of the mouth; and

(p) The term “uniformed service” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(q) The term “drug dependent person” means a person who is using a controlled substance (as defined in section 802 of title 21) and who is in a state of psychic or physical dependence, or both, arising from the use of that substance on a continuous basis. Drug dependence is characterized by behavioral and other responses which include a strong compulsion to take the substance on a continuous basis in order to experience its psychic effects or to avoid the discomfort caused by its absence.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title I, § 2, 58 Stat. 682; July 3, 1946, ch. 538, § 3, 60 Stat. 421; Feb. 28, 1948, ch. 83, § 1, 62 Stat. 38; June 16, 1948, ch. 481, § 6(a), 62 Stat. 469; June 24, 1948, ch. 621, § 6(a), 62 Stat. 601; 1953 Reorg. Plan No. 1, §§ 5, 8, eff. Apr. 11, 1953, 18 F.R. 2053, 67 Stat. 631; Pub. L. 86–70, § 31(a), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 148; Pub. L. 86–415, § 5(a), Apr. 8, 1960, 74 Stat. 34; Pub. L. 86–624, § 29(a), July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 419; 1965 Reorg. Plan No. 2, eff. July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 1318; Pub. L. 91–212, § 11, Mar. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 67; 1970 Reorg. Plan No. 4, eff. Oct. 3, 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090; Pub. L. 91–513, title I, § 2(b), Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1240; Pub. L. 93–523, § 2(b), Dec. 16, 1974, 88 Stat. 1693; Pub. L. 94–317, title III, § 301(a), June 23, 1976, 90 Stat. 707; Pub. L. 94–484, title IX, § 905(a), Oct. 12, 1976, 90 Stat. 2325; Pub. L. 95–83, title I, § 107, Aug. 1, 1977, 91 Stat. 386; Pub. L. 96–79, title II, § 203(e)(2), Oct. 4, 1979, 93 Stat. 635; Pub. L. 97–35, title IX, §§ 902(d)(5), 986(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 560, 603; Pub. L. 103–43, title XX, § 2008(e), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 212; Pub. L. 118–42, div. G, title II, § 209(l)(1), Mar. 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 448.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 246(g) of this title, referred to in subsec. (f), was repealed by Pub. L. 96–398, title I, § 107(d), Oct. 7, 1980, 94 Stat. 1571.

Section 247c(c)(1) of this title, referred to in subsec. (f), was repealed by Pub. L. 94–317, title II, § 203(f)(1), June 23, 1976, 90 Stat. 704.

Section 254d(h)(3) of this title, referred to in subsec. (f), was redesignated section 254d(i)(4) of this title by Pub. L. 100–177, title II, § 202(b)(5), title III, § 301(1), Dec. 1, 1987, 101 Stat. 996, 1003, and was subsequently redesignated section 254d(j)(4) of this title by Pub. L. 107–251, title III, § 301(b)(1), Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1643.

Section 263c(5) of this title, referred to in subsec. (f), was in the original a reference to section 355(5) of the Public Health Service Act which was redesignated section 531(5) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by Pub. L. 101–629, § 19(a)(3), Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4530, and is now classified to section 360hh(5) of Title 21, Food and Drugs.

Section 292a of this title, referred to in subsec. (f), contained definitions for purposes of subchapter V of this chapter prior to the general revision of subchapter V by Pub. L. 102–408, title I, § 102, Oct. 13, 1992, 106 Stat. 1994. See sections 292o and 295p of this title.

Section 300n of this title, referred to in subsec. (f), was repealed by Pub. L. 99–660, title VII, § 701(a), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3799.

Section 4731(g) of title 26, referred to in subsec. (j), was repealed by Pub. L. 91–513, title III, § 1101(b)(3)(A), Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1292. A definition of “opiate” is contained in section 102 of Pub. L. 91–513, which is classified to section 802 of Title 21, Food and Drugs. Reference to section 4731(g) of title 26 was substituted for “section 3228(f) of title 26” on authority of section 7852(b) of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, which provides that a reference in other laws to the Internal Revenue Code of 1939 is deemed a reference to the corresponding provision of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Codification

Section was enacted as part of title I of act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, 58 Stat. 682, and not as part of title II of such Act which comprises this subchapter.

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 118–42 substituted “the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau” for “and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands”.

1993—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–43 substituted “Health and Human Services” for “Health, Education, and Welfare”.

1981—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–35, § 902(d)(5), struck out reference to section 300d(2) of this title.

Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 97–35, § 986(a), struck out subsec. (h) which defined “seamen”.

1979—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 96–79 struck out from enumeration of excepted sections reference to section 300s–3(1) of this title.

1977—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 95–83 expanded definition of “State” to include American Samoa and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

1976—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 94–484 amended subsec. (f) generally.

Pub. L. 94–317 substituted provisions defining, with certain specific exceptions, “State” to include the several States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands for provisions defining “State” to include a State or the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands, except in section 264(d) of this title such term means a State or the District of Columbia, and in subchapter XII of this chapter such term includes Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

1974—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 93–523 designated existing provisions as cl. (1) and added cl. (2).

1970—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 91–212 amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) read as follows: “The term ‘Administrator’ means the Federal Security Administrator;”.

Subsec. (q). Pub. L. 91–513 added subsec. (q).

1960—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 86–624 struck out “Hawaii,” before “Puerto Rico”.

Subsec. (p). Pub. L. 86–415 added subsec. (p).

1959—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 86–70 struck out “Alaska,” after “Hawaii,” and substituted “or the District of Columbia” for “, the District of Columbia, or Alaska”.

1948—Subsec. (j). Act Feb. 28, 1948, inserted “isonipecaine and its derivatives, compounds, salts, and preparations; opiates (as defined in section 4731(g) of title 26)”.

Subsec. (n). Act June 16, 1948, added subsec. (n).

Subsec. (o). Act June 24, 1948, added subsec. (o).

1946—Subsecs. (l), (m). Act July 3, 1946, added subsecs. (l) and (m).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.

Effective Date of 2000 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–310, div. A, title XXIX, § 2901, Oct. 17, 2000, 114 Stat. 1168, provided that: “This division [see Tables for classification] and the amendments made by this division take effect October 1, 2000, or upon the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 17, 2000], whichever occurs later.”

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Pub. L. 103–43, title XXI, § 2101, June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 219, provided that: “Subject to section 203(c) [enacting provisions set out as a note under section 283c of this title], this Act [see Short Title of 1993 Amendment note below] and the amendments made by this Act take effect upon the date of the enactment of this Act [June 10, 1993].”

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by section 902(d)(5) of Pub. L. 97–35 effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 902(h) of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 238l of this title.

Amendment by section 986(a) of Pub. L. 97–35 effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 986(c) of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 249 of this title.

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–79 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 204 of Pub. L. 96–79, set out as a note under section 300q of this title.

Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

Pub. L. 91–212, § 12(b), Mar. 16, 1970, 84 Stat. 67, provided that: “The amendments made by sections 10(d) and 11 [amending this section and sections 276, 277, 278, 280, 280a–1, 280b–2 to 280b–9, and 280b–11 of this title] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Mar. 13, 1970].”

Effective Date of 1960 Amendment

Pub. L. 86–624, § 47(f), July 12, 1960, 74 Stat. 423, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (c), paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b), and paragraph (4) of subsection (d) of section 14 [amending sections 15i, 15jj, 15ggg, 244, and 645 of Title 20, Education], by section 20(a) [amending section 41 of Title 29, Labor], by section 23(b) [amending section 466j of Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters], by subsections (a), (b), and (c), and paragraph (4) of subsection (d), of section 29 [amending this section and sections 255, 264, and 291i of this title], and by subsection (d), and paragraph (2) of subsection (c), of section 30 [amending sections 410 and 1301 of this title] shall become effective on August 21, 1959.”

Effective Date of 1959 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 86–70 effective Jan. 3, 1959, see section 47(d) of Pub. L. 86–70.

Short Title of 2025 Amendment