Access to effective treatment options has been on the rise for fast growing cities, such as Tampa. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 48.7 million individuals would benefit from substance use treatment. (1) Of those needing treatment, only approximately 1 in 4 received it within a 12 month period. (2) Individuals may not receive treatment for various reasons, this may include financial barriers due to lack of insurance coverage, or because they possess their own beliefs regarding its process. (3) One question that those interested in substance use treatment may have is whether or not treatment would affect their job. Fortunately, there are laws that protect the employment rights of individuals seeking recovery.
At CuraSouth, we understand that making the decisions to begin one’s recovery journey and seek substance use treatment is one that requires thought and in-depth consideration. Offering various services, such as inpatient medical detox, psychotherapy, and case management, we work to ensure each treatment plan is tailored for each individual and their recovery goals. Contact us today to learn more.
Understanding the Impact
Engaging in substance use can have a negative impact on one’s job, negatively affecting their job performance, productivity, attendance, and safety. Engaging in substance use while on the job, or engaging in substance use after agreeing to work for a drug-free workplace can lead to an individual losing their job. For those wanting to seek treatment, certain approaches may be protected under the law.
Effects on Job Performance
According to the most recent data collected from SAMHSA, the top 5 occupations associated with the highest rates of substance use disorders include: (4)
- Accommodations and food services
- Construction
- Arts and Entertainment
- Mining
- Utilities
Depending on one’s profession, they may be at a higher risk of developing a substance use disorder than others. Factors such as hours worked, physical demands, or unpredictable stressors can all play a role in whether or not an individual becomes dependent on a substance. Research has found that substance use disorders have been linked to unfavorable work behaviors and poor job performance. (5)
Legal Protections and Rights
For those ready to begin their road to recovery, there are legal rights and protections allotted to those concerned about jeopardizing their job. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) both provide protection for those seeking treatment for a substance use disorder, preventing them from losing their jobs. (6, 7)
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
The ADA first went into effect in 1990. (8) The ADA federally protects individuals experiencing disabilities, or seeking substance use treatment, from experiencing discrimination in the workplace and other settings. (9)
Under the ADA, employers are prohibited from engaging in discriminatory behaviors and actions including: (10)
- Refusing to promote or hire individuals who have received substance use treatment.
- Firing an individuals for seeking substance use treatment or receiving it in the past.
- Refusing to promote, hire, or firing an individual with a history of substance use.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
FMLA was originally passed in the United States in 1993. (11) It allows for individuals to take a leave of absence from their job if they are requiring care for themselves, a child, or a serious medical concern. FMLA offers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for those who qualify. (12)
FMLA leave can be utilized by employees seeking: (13)
- Treatment for alcohol and/or other substance use disorders.
- Treatment for alcohol or substance use-related physical conditions, such as severe liver disease or failure.
- Care for children, parents, or other close relatives requiring the treatment of a substance use disorder or a substance use-related health diagnosis.
The FMLA prohibits employers from demoting, refusing to promote, or firing an employee utilizing their leave. FMLA resets annually.
In order to qualify for FMLA individuals must: (14)
- Be employed by a public agency or a private company with over 50 employees.
- Be employed by the company for at least 1 year and have worked at least 1,250 hours.
Our Facility
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Communication with Employers
For those seeking substance use treatment, understanding your addiction treatment employment rights are important. It is important to talk to your employer and your human resources department in order to ensure you are following all of the necessary guidelines. Though individuals are not required to share their diagnosis with their employer, they must still provide enough information to ensure the leave is protected by FMLA. Employers must also provide those seeking FMLA leave with information regarding their responsibilities and rights.
Disclosing Treatment Participation
Since individuals do not have to share their exact diagnosis with their employer, disclosing treatment participation is not required. Employers are unable to ask individuals questions regarding whether or not you have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, or if they have ever attended a substance use treatment facility.
Under the ADA, employers are able to ask pre-employment questions including: (15)
- Whether or not you currently in engage illicit substance use
- If you are willing to take a drug test
- Past or present substance use following a conditional employment offer. This is only permitted if all individuals interviewing for the position are asked this information, and this information may not be used to exclude you from your chances of employment.
Requesting Accommodations
Employees are able to request reasonable accommodations related to a substance use disorder or its corresponding treatment. (16) However, they may need to provide their employer with medical documentation. Information and documentation shared with employers due to accommodation requests are confidential and can not be shared with others.
Balancing Work and Treatment
There are various options for those wanting to receive substance use treatment while also balancing their careers.
Flexible Work Arrangements
Outpatient treatment programs offer flexibility for those needing to make work arrangements to attend treatment. At CuraSouth, we offer outpatient services to allow individuals the flexibility to attend work while also receiving evidence-based treatment options. Individuals are able to attend individual, family, or group therapy every week, before or after their work day.
Prioritizing Self-care and Recovery
Prioritizing oneself and one’s needs during recovery are crucial for successful treatment outcomes. Substance use is often used as a negative way to cope with life stressors, such as job responsibilities. Engaging in positive coping techniques, such as mindfulness meditation, and self-care can help positively impact an individual’s recovery journey.
Commonly Asked Questions
We offer programs lengths individualized for each client. Generally detox is anywhere from 3-7 days. These are estimates and are adjusted to meet the needs of the individual client.
Yes! We work with most major insurance providers. We offer free no-obligation insurance benefit checks for those who are interested in our program. Our admissions team will speak with your insurer and get a detailed verification of your insurance benefits and share those details with you. Unfortunately Medicaid and Medicare do not cover our facility.
Tampa Addiction Center facilities are located in the Southeast United States. Our first facility to launch is based near Tampa Bay, Florida at:
405 7th Ave SW
Largo, FL 33770
Absolutely. We understand that addiction affects the entire family system and encourage families to participate in their loved oneâs treatment. To help families recover we also offer intervention services, case management, and family workshops.
Yes. We believe in complete and total confidentiality and privacy for all of our clients. We take extra measures to make sure we go above and beyond HIPAA and health privacy standards. If you are concerned about specific privacy requirements please feel free to reach out and we can answer your questions.
While we strongly discourage leaving before treatment completion, we are not a lockdown facility. Clients are in our program voluntarily and may leave when they want.
Clients who need to take off work to attend treatment may be eligible for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). FMLA ensures that you will not be terminated while taking a leave of absence from work to attend treatment. Our admissions and case management staff can help with setting up any FMLA paperwork. For clients who are self employed, we do offer an executive program that allows for cellphone and laptop access in certain cases during business hours.
Admissions is quick and easy. Once you call our admissions team one of our dedicated treatment advisors will perform a pre-assessment over the phone . This takes about 10 minutes and just makes sure Guardian Recovery is the best fit for you or your loved ones individual needs. After the assessment we will verify insurance benefits and arrange a time for your intake (this can be as quick as 30 minutes from the initial call). If you need a ride to the facility we will dispatch one of our drivers and you will begin your recovery at our facility. It is that easy. To get started call us 24/7 at (844) 904-1778 or submit this online form click here.
Start Your Recovery Journey Today
At Tampa Addiction Center we believe that the balance between work and recovery is important to one’s long-term recovery. Our Tampa based facility can help you, or your loved one, develop the necessary techniques needed to reach and maintain long lasting recovery. Offering dual diagnosis options, we offer treatment for those experiencing both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder simultaneously. Contact us today to learn more about our substance use treatment programs and how to get started. A free, no obligation insurance benefits check can be provided to help determine which of our treatment options is covered by your insurance coverage plan. Recovery is possible at CuraSouth.
- https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/20231113/hhs-samhsa-release-2022-nsduh-data
- https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt42731/2022-nsduh-main-highlights.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3498779/
- https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_1959/ShortReport-1959.pdf
- https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/report_1959/ShortReport-1959.pdf
