No Ever Needs to Know if you Decide to Go to Drug Rehab. your Legal Rights to Privacy

Published May 21, 2010

A vast majority of alcoholics in America do not see a need for drug treatment, and of those that do, a full 25% do not initiate treatment out of a fear of the stigma of being labeled an alcoholic in recovery.

These alcoholics would prefer to be alcoholics, then face the persecution expected for admitting to their disease and seeking help.

Firstly, this says a lot about the society in which we live, and that although addiction is recognized as a disease by all major medical organizations, those suffering from this disease still feel social repercussions.

Secondly, it also shows that people in need of treatment are not well educated about their rights to privacy.

Your legal rights to privacy

If you have a need for medical drug or alcohol rehab treatment, you are entitled to this by law, and you are entitled to a complete right to privacy over this information.

In most cases your employer is mandated by law to provide you of up to 12 weeks of needed medical leave, without sanction. You cannot be denied this needed medical time, and you cannot be punished, demoted or fired for taking it. Your employer is not required to pay you for this time, although many companies do have partial payment policies for needed medical leave or drug treatment.

You are not obligated to inform your employer of the reason for your need for treatment, although if through insurance documents your employer should learn of your drug or alcohol treatment, they are legally required to maintain complete confidentiality over your medical records (Drug treatment information for employees).

Should you ever apply for a new job, your employer may ask you about present drug and alcohol consumptions, but may not ask about past abuse, and may not ask about any form of past drug or alcohol treatment.

If you apply to rent or buy a property, again, no one can legally ask you about any past history of addiction, or any past history of drug or alcohol treatment, and the same goes for access into governmental programs.

You never need to tell anyone

You are under no obligation to reveal your history of abuse or treatment to anyone, and no one else may legally reveal this information either.

If you are avoiding needed drug or alcohol treatment out of a fear of the repercussions of being labeled a recovering alcoholic or drug addict, you should rest easy knowing that you are well protected by Federal law.

If you need and want treatment, learn your rights, and get help today. Life is too short to live in fear of social stigma and continue to suffer the effects of addiction. Call your insurance provider, find out how much drug or alcohol treatment you are entitled to, and start searching for a quality drug or alcohol rehabilitation program

Christian Shire is an addictions professional writing about all matters pertaining to treatment and recovery. If you need help making a decision about treatment visit Choosehelp to read more.

Read the daily addiction blog Troubleblog for stories of recovery and the latest news on treatment options.

No Ever Needs to Know if you Decide to Go to Drug Rehab. your Legal Rights to Privacy

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