The Addiction Help .com

I have "only" been out of the paid work force for the last 5 or 6 years if you count "substitute teacher" as a full-time job back in 2003 which it never is. I'm in a situation now where if I don't get a paid job soon I will wind up on the streets or forever dependent on the Battered Womens' Shelters. I have my Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, type 80 wpm, have updated "office" computer skills coming out my ears, but find when every place I send the resume looks at how long ago my year and a half at a call center and a year as a Benefit Authorizer were, I get passed over and told nothing. Even temporary agencies like Manpower and Kelly - which I first signed on with in 1998 and 1994, respectively - can't find me temporary office or light industrial work of more than one day here and there. Jobs requiring a degree these days are also underhandedly off-the-record requiring recent verifiable work experience and saying that you have to have paid work history within the last five years. That is clearly discriminatory against recent-housewives but at this point my only hope of ever supporting myself would be to file a lawsuit against one of those companies and live off the winnings! I tried to re-enroll at the same university where I got my bachelor's, in a Biotechnology program, but have no way whatsoever to pay tuition again. I can't get loans because the original ones have gone into default while I was an unemployable housewife. (He wasn't making enough money to support both of us let alone pay either of our college debt) Also I have had one year of Law school and I do know enough to know that employers discriminating because of a Bankruptcy and other personal credit problems is illegal under California labor law.
So what am I supposed to do to deal with all of this while I wind up on the streets or in a shelter trying to study for Biotech without being able to pay the tuition let alone buy books?
All I am is a displaced homemaker and I find myself shlepped in with people who either have no education, no skills, drug or alcohol addictions, or criminal records, none of which I deserve to be lumped in with!

WOW. It sounds like you're in a tough spot.

You may want to consider taking some Community College courses or even getting an Occupational Education degree.

I teach at a CC. We have a Single Parent/displaced homemaker coordinator that really offers a lot off assistance. You may at least want to go by your local CC and talk to them about services offered.

Hang in there and keep trying.

2008-08-05 12:54:03 by choctawmicmac

Drug Rehab Treatment Center www.holisticdrugrehab.org offers intensive drug and alcohol treatment program for addicted men struggling with ...

I work at a very small police department, and we just got this letter from some attorney... was wondering if anyone knows the law concerning this and if we are really violating them. Thanks!
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This letter is a formal protest against your hiring practices, which we believe are unethical and illegal.

On February 18, 2009 our client possessed an employment application for a position as a police officer with your department. While our client was filling out his application, he discovered the following questions, which are illegal under 42 U.S.C. Section 12112(d)(2)(A) of the Americans with Disabilities Act:

1) Describe in your own words the frequency and extent of your use of alcoholic beverages.
2) Describe the level, frequency and circumstances surrounding any use of marijuana or use
of drugs not prescribed by a physician.

Our client had a good faith belief that such questions were improper and he refused to answer them. As a result, our client was unable to provide his signature to certify that there were no omissions, as required on your application. The application also requires that “ALL blanks must be filled in,” and that questions are to be filled out “completely and [to] check your answers before submitting.” Thus, your requirements prevented our client the ability to submit his employment application, on the basis that it was incomplete.

As a result of our client’s refusal to answer the unlawful questions, he was unfairly denied an equal opportunity to apply for said job and participate any further into the hiring process. Based on this, we believe our client has been victimized by discrimination, since our client is highly qualified for the police officer position and was never given an adequate opportunity to display his qualifications.

Under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), it is unlawful to ask such disability-related questions on employment applications. A law enforcement agency may not ask at the pre-offer stage about the frequency of past illegal drug use; whether the applicant has ever been addicted to drugs; or undergone treatment for addiction. Additionally, a law enforcement agency may not ask at the pre-offer stage about the frequency of past or present alcohol use; whether the applicant has ever had an alcohol addiction; or undergone treatment for addiction.

You may argue that the use of alcohol or illegal drugs may be a “disqualifer” for police applicants, on the basis of integrity. We believe that a “disqualifer” of this nature possibly could generally be appropriate, as it may be job-related and consistent with business necessity (though it may not be appropriate for an applicant who has been a successful police officer for several years). You may argue that your questions regarding the frequency and extent of alcohol/illegal drug use are solely to determine the integrity of an applicant, not to determine an addiction [disability]. We disagree, because if that was your true intent, then you would have followed the same context for these questions located on your pre-employment personal history application:

-Were you EVER accused of dishonesty by ANY of your Employers?
-Have you EVER sold or bought ANY stolen property?
-While employed with any law enforcement agency, did you commit any felony or major misdemeanor offense(s)?
-Have you physically abused any prisoner?
-Have you ever resigned while under any internal affairs investigation(s)?
-Since you went to work for any law enforcement agency have you used any illegal drugs? (narcotics, marijuana, controlled substance)
-Have you ever confiscated any prisoner’s property and make personal use of it?
-Did you or have you ever used you office or position for personal gain, revenge or illegal matter?
-Have you ever taken a bribe?
-Did you ever sleep while on duty?
-Did you ever do anything for which, should a supervisor have found out, you could have been fired?

In those questions, you never ask how many times the applicant performed the actions. A simple answer of “yes” to any of those questions would indicate an applicant lacking integrity. Any illegal drug use would indicate that an applicant is lacking integrity; therefore, we feel that your drug/alcohol questions are used to cause an applicant to divulge an addiction or perceived addiction. You can’t ask pre-offer questions regarding frequency or extent of alcohol/illegal drug use because these inquiries are likely to cause an applicant to divulge a disability or perceived disability, and therefore, such questions are disability-related questions and should not be asked until after a conditional job offer.

The Americans with Disabilities Act allows law enforcement agencies to conduct post-offer medical examinations and ask post-offer disability-related inquires. Disability-related inquiries and medical examinations legally go hand-in-hand since they are governed by the same ADA provisions.
You would not ask an applicant to do a medical examination before a conditional offer, so why would you ask disability-related questions before a conditional job offer?

(END)

That lawyer might have a point. A chemical addiction is recognized under the ADA as a medical disease and a disability, and he's saying that you can't legally ask people about any disabilities on the initial job application. This doesn't mean you have to give the guy the job, as he can still be disqualified after submitting the application if he fails the medical examination later on. It's just that any questions related to drug addiction properly belong in the medical examination (which of course, is conducted in private by a properly licensed physician), not the job application (which non-medical staff would end up seeing). Medical problems are considered personal and confidential, if I'm not mistaken, and you're not supposed to ask job applicants to share them with anybody other than a doctor. But it's probably best to just contact a lawyer who specializes in disability and labor law who can accurately interpret all this legalese.

2009-03-02 21:20:18 by JWD

Price: $5.95 $5.95

Homelessness is a social problem that concerns many social workers because it affects people’s well being. The definition of homelessness can vary. It includes not only those who are living on the streets or in shelters and hotels but also those who are living in temporary accommodation or in housing that is unfit for human conditions. There are at least 600,000 homeless men, women, and children in the United States. But one-third of this population is composed of families with children. I’m sure everyone has seen this- people driving by and watching people sleeping on the sidewalks, underneath bridges or at park benches. Or you see someone with a sign saying “I’m hungry, have no money, and need food.” This is really sad because most people assume that people that are homeless are bumbs, drug addicts, or mentally-ill. But that is not true. Some are driven into homelessness simply by bad choices, i.e. sedentary lifestyles (alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc). A very small and yet significant portion is as a result of cost of living outweighing personal income or due to loss of a job. More and more people that are homeless are women and children. On the one hand, the government should get involved with this issue. But the government is more involved with issues like building better roads and infrastructure. What about those people that are homeless that need the government’s help? But the government never seems to get involved with this situation.

I would take a different approach on this issue. My plan would be to develop and create a “hotel-like” building to accommodate all the homeless in different parts of the world where it is more prevalent. The most important objective would be to create a “get back on your feet plan” which will be individually set up with objectives and goals for each individual. Each person would receive counseling to help them with their individual needs. For example, a homeless person who was addicted to drugs would be rehabilitated and helped with his or her addiction. A person who lost their home to financial issues can be counseled about financial planning. The plan would also provide them with family contact if they do not know or are unable to reach their family members. Best of all, we will act as an agency to recruit job opportunities for them, and stay with them completely until they have found a job. For those who don’t have an education, learning opportunities and school trade certifications classes will be provided to them. With the most of that help, it seems as if we can accomplish the “end of homelessness” mission but it is not that easy. One voice is not enough to complete this task. Citizens should be put first.
It is important that us fortunate ones get involved in some way to help these people of this situation. All it takes are small contributions and involvement that can make a difference in their lives.

First of all, indent each paragraph.
Look at your story. Wherever you see you go in another direction from the previous sentence make a new paragraph.
Use your spell-checker to edit the words that you have miss-spelled.
You have a good essay and I would not do anything other than what I have told you.

2009-02-08 18:59:41 by Kyla

Price: $60.00

I'm 25yrs old male. I'm also a recovering alcoholic. I have been through many trials and overcome my problems with alcohol. I have been working very hard to become self employed working in the financial markets. I have had trouble due to the recession and am currently seeking for work to help me through this.

I found a job and 2 days before I was to start, the temp agency called me and told me they weren't going to send me to my new job because I have 3 alcohol related incidences on my record and the company wouldn't hire me anyway so she just wasnt going to send me. I only need a job for a limited time to help me out for a while.
I'm a young adult and sure, I've done alot of stupid stuff in my past but this shouldnt be held against me. I told her I'm a recovering alcoholic and I'm a much more mature person than I used to be but this isnt right.

Alcoholism and addiction in general is a disease. I worked very hard to change my life for the better and its very hard to cope with that I am being held against for my troubled alcoholism.

I wrote my senator and about to write the editor of the newspaper because these are all major companies. This is against my constitutional rights! Its hard to believe that in 2008 this is still happening..

What else can I do? What can I do to help myself?
I haven't had any alcohol for 2 years! I dont blame anyone but what happened to equal opportunity employment? That's a right as a tax payer. Alcoholism is technically a disease. So is cancer. Look at it this way. They couldnt not hire someone because they have had cancer in the past that has a chance to come back; could they? Anyway, I'm working toward being self employed. I'm going to take what I can get and try to prevent this from happening to other Americans in the future.

"This is against my constitutional rights"? I hope you are kidding. No employer can be forced to hire you. This is America not some communist country. I am glad that you are recovering, but you still have to pay consequences for your actions. You are 25, so it is not like you have had much time to be "recovered". You need to take what you can get, quit looking to blame your problems on someone else, talk to your sponsor, and stay sober. Oh, and nobody said the world is a fair and just place. Get over it now or you will drink again.
Edit: As a private employer, I have the right to hire whomever I choose for my own reasons. It is perfectly legal. I am also free to fire anyone I like for whatever reason I see fit. That is the way it works. If I hire and fire the right people I will be a success. You have no right to work. You have no right to a good wage. These are things that you earn. Congratulations on 2 years sober, but that is less than half of your adult life. You are far from proving yourself. You need to get off of the feeling sorry for yourself and get past this. Resentments will lead you to drink. Yes it is a disease, quit using it as an excuse. People with cancer usually don't miss work for being drunk, show up hungover or drunk, steal, or risk being taken out of the work place because of legal issues.

2008-09-02 12:54:21 by matt h

I just read a question where some1 stated his parents were disappointed because he drank and was in financial ruin.

He seemed depressed but some of the responses were so harsh or simply in caps, "PUT DOWN THE BOTTLE, I WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED TOO IF I WERE YOUR PARENTS."

I realize that some posters maybe to young or simply ill-equipped whether emotionally, or in lacking empathy to assist (or even in terms of age).

However, I'm in my early 20s and my first thought was for him to go seek addiction assistance. I'm sure if he explored AA he would be able to find out WHAT caused his alcohol addiction in the first place.

Moreover, once he worked on becoming sober he could receive referrals for agencies who assist with financial help.

I agree with you about the reaction of many viewers here. Not very nice.

But I have also seen many ridiculous questions being posted, trying to take the mickey out of people ... some pretending to be female and vice verse.

It is sad that there are so many who have no compassion for those with problems.

However, there was one post yesterday (supposed to be written by a female) who said that she had $*x in 'collage' (??) and that now she cannot walk as she is hurting so badly. She wanted advice if she should have $*x again tonight. I thought that that post was absolute Bogus, and replied "Ohhyeah??" S/he send me a rather nasty mail. So one never knows what to believe and where to give solid advice.

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2008-02-09 03:43:20 by SoS