The ongoing fight against opioid addiction has taken a turn towards reinforcing the rights of those in recovery, as the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina along with its Eastern and Middle counterparts, have teamed up with the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) to educate treatment providers on avoiding discrimination. This collaborative effort recently introduced an informational session titled "The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Opioid Crisis: Combating Discrimination Against People In Treatment and Recovery from Opioid Use Disorder,” according to an announcement by Dena J. King, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
The session, part of a four-module series sponsored by MAHEC, was developed to offer a detailed view of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its application to those being treated for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Civil Rights Coordinators from each U.S. Attorney’s Office presented an overview and explored past cases where individuals alleged discrimination due to treatment for OUD, or a history of drug use. The goal is to prevent skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and other medical service providers from denying access to people based on their history or current state of treatment for opioid use disorder.
Specifically, under the ADA, these individuals are recognized as having a disability, thus affording them the same rights to services and accommodations as any other disabled person. "As chief law enforcement officer in the Western District and Chair of the U.S. Attorney General's Subcommittee on Civil Rights, I am committed to enforcing the ADA and all civil rights statutes," U.S. Attorney King said. "Ensuring that individuals are receiving the proper care they need to overcome substance use disorder without experiencing discrimination is a matter of critical importance for all of us," she added, as the statement detailed by United States Attorney's Office.
For those believing they've been subjected to discrimination, the route to remedy is through filing an ADA complaint online. Furthermore, resources on the ADA are readily available for those in need at the Department of Justice website or via their toll-free information line. As MAHEC continues its 50-year history of contributing to healthcare and education, this partnership illustrates their ongoing commitment to supporting communities, especially in empowering those battling opioid use disorder.
