Legal and Social Aspects of Addiction Recovery

Seeking treatment is a significant milestone in recovery. There are many aspects to consider, including the legalities of recovery and social aspects. In this blog, we’ll provide guidance on navigating legal rights, workplace challenges, and social life post-rehabilitation. 

We’ll look at the following:

• Navigating Legal Rights in Recovery
• Rebuilding a Social Life After Rehab
• Returning to the Workplace Post-Rehabilitation
• Harmony Junction Recovery’s Support in Navigating Legal and Social Challenges

Navigating Legal Rights in Recovery

Going into addiction treatment doesn’t mean losing your rights. We have special laws in place that protect various aspects of rehabilitation patients, including employment, housing, and healthcare rights.

Understanding Employment Rights

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people in recovery who no longer engage in illicit drug use and meet the requirements for disability. This means that recovering addicts on disability cannot be discriminated against in employment for their past addiction, including:

• Being fired
• Refusal to hire
• Refusal to promote

Similarly, the ADA program protects employees who are currently enrolled in a drug or alcohol rehabilitation program.

U.S. Housing and Healthcare Rights

The Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988 prohibits discrimination toward those in recovery during any housing transactions. Realtors, brokers, and private sellers cannot refuse to sell you a home based on past drug or alcohol usage or being a part of a recovery program.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) makes health insurance more affordable and offers special protections for those facing mental health and substance use challenges who struggle to get private health insurance.

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires insurance plans to treat mental illnesses and substance use disorders coverage equally with general medical coverage. This includes confirming that deductibles, copays, out-of-pocket limits, and restrictions for substance abuse and mental health treatment are no more restrictive than those for other medical care.

The SUPPORT Act expands access to evidence-based care, building on previous laws like CARA. Key features include adjusting State Targeted Response grants, continuing first responder training for opioid overdose, and granting funds for comprehensive opioid recovery centers. The Act also directs HHS to establish best practices for recovery housing and identify signs of potentially fraudulent operators.

 

Rebuilding a Social Life After Rehab

Returning to your daily life following recovery can be an uncomfortable transition. You’re going back to family and friends who may or may not know of your recovery, or you are seeking out new friends and support groups post-treatment. 

Consider the following tips on finding supportive communities and setting healthy boundaries in social interactions.

Establishing Supportive Relationships

It’s essential that you surround yourself with people who encourage your treatment and recovery journey, which may look like:

• Spending time with friends and family who are sober and supportive
• Removing yourself from past groups that promoted your addiction.
• Taking part in support groups and sober living communities (AA, NA, ALANON, etc.)
• Seeing a therapist or counselor individually or in a group setting
• Attending aftercare treatment programs provided by the treatment center
• Developing coping strategies for triggers
• Establishing boundaries with people (e.g., only spending time with a certain family member in public, no alcohol places)
• Attending sober events, including wellness workshops, fitness classes, and other local activities

Navigating Social Situations

One of the main triggers for relapse is other people. Whether you have past friends who participated in drug use or social groups that like to meet at bars, you’ll have to guard your recovery and avoid these triggers. 

This doesn’t necessarily mean removing people from your life entirely. If your friends support your recovery but also drink, you can hang out with them when they’re not drinking.

Returning to the Workplace Post-Rehabilitation

If you participated in an inpatient program, you took off work for several weeks to attend treatment. Going back to work can be a bit of a culture shock and difficult to navigate.

Navigating Co-workers

Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding addiction is still an issue, and you may experience some awkwardness returning to work. Don’t let this deter you from recovery or your job; be proud of yourself for how far you’ve come in recovery.

Reinstating Routine

Rehab is structured with a strict routine for your recovery. Depending on your schedule, this can be beneficial as you return to work. If you work 9-5, transitioning from treatment to work may be smoother than working odd jobs or as a contractor. Don’t let this throw you off; create your routine and stick to it, including work, fitness, and support groups.

Managing Stress

Returning to work comes with deadlines, social pressures, and workload. Continue using your learned coping skills and mindfulness to manage stress. When you allow stress to build up, this can increase urges that lead to relapse. If you need additional support for stress, don’t hesitate to contact your treatment center or a professional.

Maintaining a Work-Life Balance

It’s easy to move from one addiction to another in an attempt to distract yourself from the initial addiction. Some recovering substance addicts will bury themselves in their work to prevent relapse, subsequently leading to work addiction. 

Personal time is as important as maintaining a work life. Spend time with friends and family who support your recovery, and take time to enjoy past or new hobbies that keep your mind busy and bring you joy.

Workplace Support and Resources

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer recovery services to employees by addressing common issues like treatment referrals, short-term counseling, management consultation, and employee education.

Balancing Work and Recovery

Professional responsibilities can lead to stress that triggers urges to relapse. 

The best ways to keep a balance between your work and recovery include:

• Put self-care first (mental health support, fitness, sleep, etc.)
• Establish a healthy, practical routine
• Communicate with coworkers and managers openly about stress
• Set reasonable goals for meeting deadlines and managing workload
• Practice time management
• Use the workplace resources offered (e.g., EAPs)
• Avoid work events where alcohol is present
• Be aware of your triggers and have a plan of action to avoid them (e.g., specific conversations, built-up stress, working from home, etc.)

 

Harmony Junction Recovery’s Support in Navigating Legal and Social Challenges

Our compassionate professionals at Harmony Junction Recovery want our patients to be informed and empowered in their rights. Our patients have the right to choose a program where their spouse or pet is involved or where they can continue working during treatment (The intensive outpatient program).

We keep your information confidential so that you can heal and know that you’re in charge of your life and who gets to know about your recovery. Self-advocacy is a critical piece in recovery during and post-treatment, and we will always honor your rights.

Learn more today by contacting us. We look forward to hearing from you.