It is illegal to discriminate against people because they are in MAT. Federal civil rights laws protect qualified ‘individuals with disabilities’ from discrimination in many areas of life. People in recovery from drug addiction – including those in MAT – generally are protected from discrimination by the following statutes:
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Fair Housing Act (FHA)
- Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
Many courts have ruled that people in MAT have a disability and are therefore protected from discrimination by these laws.
Source: Attorneys at the Legal Action Center authored, Know Your Rights: Rights for Individuals on Medication-Assisted Treatment. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 09-4449. Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2009.
