US Attorney’s Offices Present Information Session on the Americans with Disabilities Act’s Protections for Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder

GREENSBORO - On August 28, 2024, the U.S. Attorney's Offices in the Western, Eastern, and Middle Districts of North Carolina, in partnership with the Mountain Area Health Education Center ("MAHEC"), presented an information session on the Americans with Disabilities Act's protections for individuals with opioid use disorder ("OUD") and combatting discrimination against people in treatment and recovery. This presentation was hosted by the Assistant United States Attorneys and Civil Rights Coordinators from the Civil Division in each district who work to enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"). Participants learned about the ADA's coverage, the Act's applicability to individuals with OUD, and the Department of Justice's work to investigate alleged violations of the ADA and enforce compliance. The presentation was part of an ongoing webinar series hosted by MAHEC; later modules will include additional information about medicinal and operational for treating for OUD in geriatric care, including skilled nursing facilities.

Ensuring that medical and social service providers do not discriminate on the basis of disability, including OUD, is an issue of general public importance. "Individuals who are in recovery and who have stopped illegally using drugs should not face discrimination when accessing evidence-based treatment," said Sandra J. Hairston, United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina (USAO-MDNC). "The ADA protects individuals who are prescribed medication for OUD under the supervision of a licensed health care provider, and we will continue to work to remove discriminatory barriers to recovery."

The Department of Justice's 2022 guidance on how the ADA protects individuals in treatment or recovery, including individuals who take medications to treat OUD, is available at: https://archive.ada.gov/opioid_guidance.pdf. This is the USAO-MDNC's second presentation on the ADA's protections for individuals in recovery; in 2022, the office presented to county personnel who operate jails regarding the ADA's protections, particularly access to medications for OUD.

Individuals who believe they have been victims of discrimination may file an ADA complaint online at https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/. Additional information about the ADA can be found at www.ada.gov, or by calling the Department of Justice's toll-free information line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 1-833-610-1264 (TTY).

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