government discrimination against recovering addicts and alcoholics

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Some recent comments: these messages are published with permission of the signer.

All the addicts I met, are addicted to alcohol, drugs and television, and they are domestic terrorists.. they try to shudder you out, and try to play your heart... it's disgusting.. They are hostile idiots, lunatics who don't even move right, they need constant training methods, and still are not civil enough for this world. It's ashame also that they are such pigs. They are moronic. Never clean a thing up after themselves.. They are a nuissance. I am sick and tires of taking care of these disgusting beasts.. then after I am done taking care of them they steel and try to torture me.. They are disgusting and don't deserve anything from me or anyone else. We have been put through enough. Enough is enough. They are hoarder monkeys/terroristic/sociopathic/threat and the only way around is to help them, through control. I know all about it, I have dealt with this type of thing since I was a small child.
This discrimination is very revolting and NO ONE SHOULD BE punished for past mistakes. After all, WE are all humans.
I am an RN that messed up because of my addiction. I am in recovery and am OKAYed with the Board of Nursing to work as a nurse again. I am in the process of getting my DEFERRED charge completely removed from my record. However, I cannot work anywhere in the healthcare field, not even as a housekeeper, for 4.5 more years!! It is a ridiculous law that isn't doing what it's supposed to do and is only ruining lives of recovering addicts!!
If the individual participated in rehabilitation, quit using illegal drugs or alcohol and regained their license, how can they be discriminated against for a past disability?
Discrimination of any type related to personal characteristics is unacceptable. It is shameful when legislators do not adhere to the principle of equality among men.
I've been in recovery since July 2009, and I am currently being harrassed in my position. My uncle is a physician and he has been in recovery for over 10 years - my dad - for 6 years. Addiction is treatable, but they would be dead, and I would be dead within a few short year if we had not had the courage to seek help. We continue with support from each other and our peers. OIG's holocaust. PERIOD. It is amazing. What revolutionary 1960's icon said, (very paraphrased) 'the difference between rebellion and revolution is organization'? anyone?
regarding sb1986. this law will stop rn from being licensed in florida if they have a felony charge in the last 15 years. How pitiful is this with the nursing shortage all over the us. These people are bettering themselves, and now this stopping all their hopes of becoming an rn. The bill is before the house, but am told it will die before it reaches the floor. How can this be possible when it affects so many people. Where is the help for people wanting to better themselves? please let the ammended bill pass.
this law is unforgiving, for people that are trying to better themselves. I am an lpn and attending rn school, now it looks like i am never going to become an rn. due to this law.
There are many people that would certainly admit to being an addict or alcoholic if it were not for the fear receiving stiff penalties from parties everywhere not only in workplace. Therefore, recovery for many who would otherwise seek help are actually in fear of being punished for any self admittance. Why would anyone want to admit they are or have had a problem in today society? Discrimination is all over this medically diagnosed disease and it no different from racial, sexual or any other discrimination.
I can tell you that many who are in recovery are more trustworthy than many of those who have no recovery.
There are many people that would certainly admit to being an addict or alcoholic if it were not for the fear receiving stiff penalties from parties everywhere not only in workplace. Therefore, recovery for many who would otherwise seek help are actually in fear of being punished for any self admittance. Why would anyone want to admit they are or have had a problem in today society? Discrimination is all over this medically diagnosed disease and it no different from racial, sexual or any other discrimination.
I can tell you that many who are in recovery are more trustworthy than many of those who have no recovery.
There are many people that would certainly admit to being an addict or alcoholic if it were not for the fear receiving stiff penalties from parties everywhere not only in workplace. Therefore, recovery for many who would otherwise seek help are actually in fear of being punished for any self admittance. Why would anyone want to admit they are or have had a problem in today society? Discrimination is all over this medically diagnosed disease and it no different from racial, sexual or any other discrimination.
I can tell you that many who are in recovery are more trustworthy than many of those who have no recovery.
I am shocked that a class action lawsuit has not been filed against this extremely prejudicial and punitive list that includes people who suffered from a disease that insurance companies and federally funded programs pay to treat. I would like for someone to explain to me how this is at all legal.
If this was applied to our fine servants of the law and our government officials.Who allowed over one TRILLION dollars to be taken from Medicare plus the fraud and corruption that seems epidemic,I could see the point the governments fraud is a moral problem.Addiction is a disease and is treatable, unlike the state of affairs of our trusted servants.
I did my time and paid for my crime but to continue to discriminate against me for what I did when I was sick is legally and morally wrong. I now have an education and am a contributing member of society, yet am still blocked from many employment environments. This is wrong.
I need help to pay for this IPN eval
I cannot believe the discrimination against hard working recovering health care workers who have made it to the other side of a fatal disease.
My husband who is a recovering alcoholic and was a prominent federal scientist was harassed mercilessly after he went into rehabilitation for his alcoholism. He was demoted immediately from his position the moment he went into rehab and his immediate supervisor immmediately began the process of "pipping" him even though he was clean and trying to turn things around. It didn't matter what he did, they found fault in it. The harassment went on for years until my husband became so ill from the constant harassment he almost died. He has been forced into early retirement because of the discriminatory practices of the federal government against recovering alcoholics. I am all for this petition.
I am a recovering addict and alcoholic. And am faced with MANY judgements about me. I have a BS, and have tried to get work or do other social things but am constantly judged and critized. This is unfair. Alcoholism is a disease.
I don't want to return to nursing or any heath care related field. I just want to buy a first home for my wife and two daughters! The OIG list prevents me from getting a FHA loan!!!!!! Help me Congress.......Just need one person to show mercy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
My husband is on the exclusion list because of a past drug addiction in 2004 after mourning the death of our newborn son. My husband has been clean ever since. And never wants to go back to the medical profession. Yet because his name is on this list we currently cannot get approved for a federal government loan in order to buy our first home. Please tell me what this has to do with being banned from the health industry. This list goes much farther than just health care. You will not be able to get any federal government aid! This discrimination goes much farther than just the health care profession. We cannot buy a home for our family!!
cruel and unusual.Abusive is an understatement.
to the responder in eugene, oregon, I wholeheartedly agree with you, unfortunately this does not just affect Florida health care workers, this is a national travesty. I suffered from a pain killer prescription addiction 5 years ago (had no arrests or legal issues thank god) but lost my license. I got my life back on track, had a fantastic job as a surgical sales rep and lost my job because I was included on this list. How the government was allowed to make a leap from a disease (that is covered under the ADA) to puttng these individuals on a list that was intended for people who intentionally defrauded the government is draconian. Who does it benefit for me to lose my job because I am in recovery from a very serious illness? It was "snuck" in, as you said in hte balanced budget act of 1997, which says it all. The government is using addiction as a way to get more money and in the meantime perpetuating the stereotype that addicted and alcoholic individuals are bad as opposed to ill.
This new "law" in the state of FL, SB1986 is RIDICULOUS and discriminatory. How many fabulous RN's and LPN's not to mention other healthcare workers, will lose their license because maybe they had a posession arrest due to addiction 10-12 yrs ago! Does it not matter the the strictest BON in the world saw fit to give them another chance at a license due to their documented sobriety and contributions to society during the interim? How is addiction considered MEDICARE FRAUD?!?! This law was snuck in at the last minute not giving Nursing associations a chance to amend it or QUASH IT! FL is going to be losing so many capable and fabulous licensed healthcare workers! I thought we were trying to find a way to get more of these, not weed out good ones? What is wrong with this state? Why is one, non-repeated posession conviction a felony anyway?
this is an exapme of a government program that has broadened way past it's intent. It is ruining lives of good people and folks whop arejust trying to re-build their life while recovering from a devastating illness
Addiction is a disease comprised of genetic and psychosocial components that do NOT discriminate against the type of person afflicted. It is our duty as individuals, communities, and organized governments to intervene in a supportive and non-judgmental manner to help create a greater productive and safer society.
The expnsion of this program well beyond its original intent is unfortunate, and sorely needs to be corrected.
The OIG inclusion of health care professionals who have lost their license due to addiction is draconian beyond measure. Many of these individuals devoted their educational years to gaining the knowledge and skills that are highly specific to health care. It is not a simple matter to have a license reinstated; it requires significant time and financial commitment and ironically many of the recovering individuals in this predicament lack the finances to pay for the extensive period (one year) of random drug screening as they are barred from any job they may have the qualifications for.

First and foremost this list was created to identify individuals who deliberately defrauded the US taxpayers. As far as I know, the only names included that do not carry criminal charges are those of licensed health care professionals who lost their license in the midst of addiction. How is this just?
This is a disease which can be treated and remission is possible. I personally have over 14 years of remission (recovery). Yet I still have a tough time at job interviews. This is the only disease I'm aware of that requires punishment before treatment. It's also a disease that leads to life long stigma and continued punishment. It's time for you guys to change this disgusting situation.

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