Alcoholism a “Disability,” According to Fired Nurse

A nurse at Summit Surgical Center in Voorhees, New Jersey was recently fired over her alcoholism. She has fought back with a wrongful-termination lawsuit alleging that alcoholism qualifies as a disability and so the hospital has no right to fire her. Her alcoholism led to anxiety, depression, lateness, and missing work. The nurse said that her alcoholism was the primary reason she was fired, and says that is violates the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. A federal judge allowed the lawsuit to proceed.

While most people might not go as far as saying that alcoholism is a disability, it is a fact that alcoholism is by definition a compulsive craving, one that is medically termed a disease or a neurological disorder. Alcoholics don’t have the same control over their actions that non-alcoholics do. Alcoholics are usually unable to break their addictions themselves, and so they need to seek help in the form of treatment; whether that’s inpatient or outpatient, it usually involves detox and rehab. In any case, the story of the nurse proves that alcoholism can be very destructive to your career and social standing.

Thankfully, there is good help out there for alcoholics. Medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating alcohol dependence, especially at supportive rehabilitation environments. If you think you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol, you should seek help before something tragic happens. It’s very important to find the right treatment center, that’s why at Seabrook, we customize our treatment plans to individual patient’s needs, so you know the help you’re getting is right for you or a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about drugs, alcohol, addiction, and treatment.