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Hi Interesting. I am not aware of any cases on this but we can discuss such impairments further if they are the type your organisation represesnts. The DDA requires 'mental' conditions to be clinically well recognised. As a result if the condition has a 'name' and there is a causal link between the condition and an addiction, and the addiction causes an adverse effect on day to day activities then the individual may be covered. Not becuase of their addiction but because of the underlying impairment. The Commission is currently looking at the definition of disability in relation to mental impairment (the term used in the act as opposed to physical conditions). If you know of other conditions where there could be an overlap between a mental impairment and physical affects let me know chris -----Original Message----- From: big-hi2u [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: 08 March 2002 10:57 To: Chris Benson; [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Re: Addiction interesting just for curiosity What if a neurological or other condition caused an individual to have an addiction towards drugs or alcohol! Many people diagnosed with AD/HD well be treated with medication. However many haven't had their neurological difference diagnosed and therefore don't receive medical help or help towards finding ways of living with this neurological difference. Many end up on drugs or alcohol however perhaps there impairment un supported by statutory agency through their childhood. Surely this is an impairment first that may show in behaviour difficulties and due to their impairments may not necessarily have the capability to prevent themselves becoming addicted to alcohol or drugs. Self injuries is also another interesting issue. Could it be a neurological difference that courses a person to self injure? Under medical model, is the person disabled because: they have a neurological difference or because they have self injured or because of disablement self injury has caused? The reason I have made a response is because there's a need to highlight that there could be an medical condition people have that perhaps doesn't provide them the skills needed to ensure they don't become addicted to drugs or alcohol. Andy www.hi2u.org hi2u 4 people with hidden impairments ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Benson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, March 08, 2002 7:53 AM Subject: Re: Addiction > For the purposes of the Disability Discrimination Act (which uses a medical > model of disability) drug and alcohol addictions are specifically excluded. > However any conditions that arise from these addictions such as Cirrhosis > are not excluded so the individual may be deemed disabled under the > legislation as a result of the secondary condition. > > Chris Benson > Legal Officer > The Disability Rights Commission > > -----Original Message----- > From: acunningham [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 07 March 2002 18:50 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Addiction > > > I would appreciate any views on these questions. > > Do people who are addicted to drugs/alcohol have an impairment? > Are people who are addicted to drugs/alcohol disabled? > > ________________End of message______________________ > > Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List > are now located at: > > www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html > > You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page. > > ________________End of message______________________ > > Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List > are now located at: > > www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html > > You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page. > ________________End of message______________________ Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List are now located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.