Question Description: Discussion 1: Anti-Discrimination Law and Laws Protecting Individuals With Addiction
There are very specific laws and advocacy efforts to protect individuals with addictions. Only in the past thirty years have people with addictions had legal protection from discrimination (Lawinfo, 2009). Anti-discrimination laws exist to provide people struggling with addiction the opportunity to receive treatment without suffering punitive actions. These include:

Affordable Care Act
American with Disabilitites Act
Children’s Health Act
Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act
Trial Law and Order Act (TLOA)
For this Discussion, research the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and one other act listed above in the Walden Library and reputable Internet sources. Consider how you might respond to the scenario provided utilizing the two acts.

Scenario
Imagine being at work, when suddenly, a colleague walks in visibly intoxicated. She is being loud, slurring her words, and bumping into people. Realizing that she is disturbing her co-workers, the intoxicated employee walks into the human resources department and tells them she is addicted to alcohol and needs treatment.

By Day 3
Post a brief description of the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and one other act you chose for this discussion as it relates to addictions. Explain how you might respond to the scenario provided utilizing the two acts. Identify the rights the employee has in this situation. Explain how the laws you discuss protect the employee who violated the company’s policy on drunkenness. Explain why such laws might be important.

Answer preview

In an organization where leaders are required to treat employees based on ethical and legal standards, my response to the scenario would be focusing on improving the individuals’ health. As emphasized by Robisonson (2014), providing the options for addiction treatment programs to enroll in would be necessary. While doing so, ensuring that the employee understands the treatment compensation provided under the MHPAEA Act would motivate the employee to take her treatment seriously. Considering that this act requires insurers to provide equal benefit packages just like those offered in the delivery of medical/surgery benefits, the taken measures would ensure that the employee gets a timely solution. Further, the ACA requires states to identify the public health services on SUD recovery health plans. The mandatory healthcare coverage that the ACA act ensures that even clients who cannot afford treatment are not left out. As much as there have been uncertainties regarding this act in Mississippi, due to incomprehensive coverage guidelines, the legal requirements on promoting health would influence the adoption of supportive medical care interventions.

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