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Re: A wronged individual
Hi, Carol Francey here of A&D Information BC. I am also on the ADDMed and
there the question of stigma has arisen. These are some clips from it. Some
of you may belong to both lines and can respond.
Subject: Re: Disease Model as seen by one of its "beneficiaries"
To: ADD_MED@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Hi all,
Weren't addicts and alcoholics thought of as 'immoral degenerates' long
before the belief that there was a psysiological or disease concept? I
don't believe admitting your an addict/alcoholic causes the
discrimination. Seems like it involves other things than just the
disease concept too. Your past follows you around whether you know it
or not. With insurances, it involves money and costs. Employment it is
money, cost, and safety. I do believe in the saying 'be true to
oneself though'. Interesting argument ...
Cathy Z.
Pete Watts wrote:
>
> Having the "disease of addiction" has helped many individuals
to get the help they need. On the other hand having a history of
"addiction" has prevented many people who no longer
> have any signs or symptoms of the "disease" from being treated
fairly in society.
> <p>
> Labeling someone with the addiction "disease" has allowed
insurance companies, licensing agencies, employers, and others to
discriminate against former addicts with impunity. Such
> discrimination often occurs no matter whether or not individuals have
previously had consequences related to their work or their physical health.
Many people who have voluntarily sought treatment to
> better themselves find themselves unable to obtain disability insurance,
get jobs, or obtain licenses which are available to those who refuse to
ever admit that they have an addiction problem.
> <p>
> I think the problem is that the disease concept allows such
discriminations to occur because it suggests that not only are addicts
incapable of change, they are just like the most irresponsible
> addicts in the height of their addictions (or having to struggle a day at
a time not to be that way).
> <p>
> Simply stated, I think it is unfortunate that the disease concept gives
those who consider all addicts (past and present) as immoral degenerates, a
legal right to treat them as such.
>
Cathy: I don't believe admitting your an addict/alcoholic causes the
> discrimination.
I would prefer not to get into specifics, but I can tell you it does.
Especially (but not only), if you tell them you are a sober alcoholic
who does not attend AA. The discrimination extends beyond the job
setting into scholarships, grants, acceptance to programs, etc. The
extent to which this discrimination occurs is up for debate, however,
since often another reason (if any) will be give for selecting another
candidate. Having worked in fields were racial discrimination was
rampant, I can tell you that what is said in the open, and what is said
in confidence are two different things. I would expect that
discrimination due to chemical dependency would follow the same
dynamics, and thus be generally difficult to prove. That is unless it
is carried out in front of somebody like me, who has chosen not to make
issue of "who" or "what" I am. I have also seen similar discrimination
against obese people. Jim Y.
==============================================================================
- At 09:16 AM 1/27/99 -0500, you wrote:
>I hope this question is within the scope of the list.
>
>Someone I don't know contacted me with a sad story involving his doctor's
>office, his pharmacist, his boss, and others. Confidential information,
>which got passed around casually without his permission, is hurting his job
>and his treatment.
>
>He's got a lawyer, but wants to consult with a lawyer who specializes in
>medical privacy. He's in Rhode Island. Any leads?
>
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---
Up with people!