Given the severity of the opioid crisis in America, the need for treatment has been a decades-long discussion. However, recent reports show that treatment for opioid addiction can often lead to some pretty significant discrimination acts. That is a serious problem and plays a significant role in hobbling any positives that can come from many treatment programs.
Worse, if addicts fear they will be discriminated against, they are likely to pull out of attending treatment altogether. This creates a vicious cycle whereby treatment is not administered, leaving those most vulnerable and in-need of help to simply survive.
Some have found that even things as simple as being honest about what they are using to try and beat their addiction has caused discrimination. One story recalled how an individual admitted to using methadone to try and beat their addiction themselves, only to find that this set her treatment back. Though she was sent to Emergency Response, the individual was discharged without treatment, and was informed the hospital would not provide pain medication on prescription despite not asking for such treatment.
Stigma against many forms of treatment, but especially the use of methadone, is seen as a rising problem within the treatment and care of addiction. Many people find that they are treated with stigma for being an addict in the first place, then, the steps they take to try and overcome that is ruined by further stigma and insult being directed their way.
Individuals who are undergoing medical treatment for addiction are facing stigma that they should not. Unfortunately, reports of this existing in the legal and medical sector, which are supposed to be there to help people get back on their feet, is an alarming development.
New guidelines to come into place to fight back against stigma
However, one positive piece of information has come out from the U.S. Department of Justice. New guidelines and advice are being created to help make sure that it is made clear that discrimination against someone who is using prescribed medication, such as methadone, is in contravention of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
While these guidelines are widely accepted as a net positive, they do not adjust or change the federal government policy. They do, though, provide extra support for authorities who are looking out for signs of discrimination within departments. This would be useful for helping to give individuals fighting back against the discrimination a fair argument to use against the problem at hand.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how well these new guidelines do. As they are simply guidelines as opposed to flat out changes to the system, it might be hard to ensure that those who are working in these settings stick to the agreement and provide people with the trust and the honesty that they deserve.
These guidelines are essential to trying to do something, but it is hoped that more will be done in the near future to help enforce such changes. Simply adding a disclaimer or a reminder is not enough. More has to be done to help change attitudes towards addiction treatment both within the support solutions that exist and in wider society.
Citation
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/treatment-opioid-addiction-brings-discrimination-83980484