The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
Health and Social Services Department Alcohol and Drug Service
Gloucester Lodge, Stopford Road
St Saviour, Jersey, JE2 7LB
Tel: +44 (0)1534 445000
Fax: +44 (0)1534 445010
E-mail: j.finlay@health.gov.je
8th February 2018
Deputy R J Renouf
Chairman
Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel Scrutiny Office
States Greffe
Morier House
St Helier
JE1 1DD
Dear Deputy Renouf
I reply to you letter dated 30th January 2018 requesting a response on the Draft Discrimination (Disability) (Jersey) Regulations.
Addiction to alcohol, nicotine or any other substance is not a disability, unless the addiction was originally the result of the administration of medically prescribed drugs or other medical treatment.
As an Alcohol and Drug Team I can only give opinion on alcohol and drug issues.
I have taken time to discuss this with the team and we find it is perverse that the above statement itself discriminates if a person develops an addiction from the actions of a Doctor it is considered a disability. However, it is not a disability when an individual develops an addiction through psychosocial reasons. Therefore, it feels that individuals who develop addictions from psychosocial reasons are being discriminated against but those whom develop an addiction through the actions of a Doctor would be treated differently and be considered to have a disability.
Drug and Alcohol dependency is defined as a mental disorder within the DSM 5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, American Psychiatric Association) and the ICD 10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) a medical classification list by the World Health Organization (WHO).
I agree it is complex and in terms of disability I think consideration should be taken with regards to degree of addiction.
If you wish to discuss further feel free to contact me on the above number. Yours sincerely
Jane Finlay Team Manager