| "bottom-link"> | | | | reason for your need for treatment, although if through |
| | | | insurance documents your employer should learn of |
| A vast majority of alcoholics in America do not see a | | | | your drug or alcohol treatment, they are legally required |
| need for drug treatment, and of those that do, a full | | | | to maintain complete confidentiality over your medical |
| 25% do not initiate treatment out of a fear of the | | | | records. |
| stigma of being labeled an alcoholic in recovery. | | | | Should you ever apply for a new job, your employer |
| These alcoholics would prefer to be alcoholics, then | | | | may ask you about present drug and alcohol |
| face the persecution expected for admitting to their | | | | consumptions, but may not ask about past abuse, and |
| disease and seeking help. | | | | may not ask about any form of past drug or alcohol |
| Firstly, this says a lot about the society in which we | | | | treatment. |
| live, and that although addiction is recognized as a | | | | If you apply to rent or buy a property, again, no one |
| disease by all major medical organizations, those | | | | can legally ask you about any past history of addiction, |
| suffering from this disease still feel social | | | | or any past history of drug or alcohol treatment, and |
| repercussions. | | | | the same goes for access into governmental |
| Secondly, it also shows that people in need of | | | | programs. |
| treatment are not well educated about their rights to | | | | You never need to tell anyone |
| privacy. | | | | You are under no obligation to reveal your history of |
| Your legal rights to privacy | | | | abuse or treatment to anyone, and no one else may |
| If you have a need for medical drug or alcohol rehab | | | | legally reveal this information either. |
| treatment, you are entitled to this by law, and you are | | | | If you are avoiding needed drug or alcohol treatment |
| entitled to a complete right to privacy over this | | | | out of a fear of the repercussions of being labeled a |
| information. | | | | recovering alcoholic or drug addict, you should rest |
| In most cases your employer is mandated by law to | | | | easy knowing that you are well protected by Federal |
| provide you of up to 12 weeks of needed medical | | | | law. |
| leave, without sanction. You cannot be denied this | | | | If you need and want treatment, learn your rights, and |
| needed medical time, and you cannot be punished, | | | | get help today. Life is too short to live in fear of social |
| demoted or fired for taking it. Your employer is not | | | | stigma and continue to suffer the effects of addiction. |
| required to pay you for this time, although many | | | | Call your insurance provider, find out how much drug or |
| companies do have partial payment policies for | | | | alcohol treatment you are entitled to, and start |
| needed medical leave or drug treatment. | | | | searching for a quality drug or alcohol rehabilitation |
| You are not obligated to inform your employer of the | | | | program. |