Title: National Recommendations for Ending Discrimination Against People with Alcohol and Drug Problems
Author:
Section/SPIG: Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
Issue Date:
A national policy panel has released recommendations to change private and public policies to end discrimination against people with alcohol and drug problems. The policy findings are guided by two principles: addiction is a public health problem; and public and private policies that impede treatment and recovery should be removed.
The panel included a judge, a former U.S. Attorney General, prosecutors and defense attorneys, physicians, a dean of a law school, the past president of the American Medical Association, labor and business executives, a journalist and advocates. They represented the broad ideological divisions present throughout the nation. Despite their differences, the panelists were able to reach consensus on ways to change discriminatory policies in health care, employment and public benefits.
More than 60 witnesses from around the country provided written and oral testimony to the panel, which used a common-sense approach to decide on its proposals: if a policy is not an effective deterrent to an individual's use of illicit drugs or excessive alcohol, but does interfere with the person getting treatment, an education or a job, it should be changed.
Several of the ten recommendations include:
- Offer insurance coverage at parity with that for other illnesses;
- Provide treatment based on the best scientific protocols and standards of care; support, rather than fire, employees who voluntarily seek treatment; and
- Give people with alcohol and drug problems the opportunity to receive public benefits, including federal financial aid and housing.
Join Together convened the panel to identify and address discriminatory policies and offer recommendations for change, in support of its "Demand Treatment!" initiative. People seeking treatment and recovery routinely and consistently encounter public and private policies that impede their ability to get jobs, housing and appropriate medical care. Ending discrimination is one way to ensure that people will get access to quality treatment.
The report can be downloaded from <www.jointogether.org/discrimination>, or e-mail <publications@jointogether.org> for copies. The first printed copy of the report is free.
Contact: Anara Guard, Director of Information, Join Together, 617-437-1500