Human Rights, Substance Dependence, and Workplace Accommodation

Rebecca Gowan

Senior Policy Advisor, Human Rights Promotion Branch, Canadian Human Rights Commission

BIO

Human Rights, Substance Dependence, and Workplace Accommodation “This presentation provides a human rights perspective on substance dependence in the workplace, and an overview of the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s new guide for employers to workplace accommodation.

Substance Dependence is a disability protected by human rights legislation that has many serious consequences—for individuals, families, communities—and also the workplace. When an employee is dependent on drugs or alcohol, employers have an obligation to accommodate and support their recovery and must balance this obligation with ensuring a safe workplace.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission’s new guide to accommodation provides employers with step-by-step guidance on accommodating substance dependence in the workplace and ensuring a safe workplace for all. This presentation provides an overview of the guide.

  • Understanding of key human rights principles regarding substance dependence in the workplace
  • Overview of five steps to accommodating substance dependence in the workplace
  • Awareness of new human rights resources on substance dependence in the workplace and accommodation.

Employees with addiction need help

Substance abuse cost the Canadian economy about $40-billion in lost productivity as far back as 2002  (the latest statistics available), according to a 2006 report published by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.

The Recovery Capital Conference is offering a workshop called Recovery in the Workplace.

Register today for the two day conference, a must attend event for anyone who manages employees.

according to the Globe and Mail

Companies are being urged to create or update their drug and alcohol policies in light of the growing use of pot for medical purposes and the pending legalization of marijuana in Canada.  Employers need to be strict with their policies, but also compassionate when dealing with employees, which includes accommodating any medical issues or addictions.

RECOVERY IN THE WORKPLACE WORKSHOP SPEAKERS

Dr. Ray Baker BIO

Associate Clinical Professor, UBC.
Consultant Occupational Addiction Medicine.
National Recovery Advisory Committee – CCSA.

Recovery Oriented Workplace

Alcohol and Drug Policies, Accommodating the addicted/ recovering worker


Dr. Paul Sobey BIO

President of the Canadian Society of Addiction Medicine.  Lead physician and an Addiction Medicine Consultant for the Royal Columbian Hospital.

Medicated Assisted Recovery and the Workplace

Issues of prescribed impairing substances, opioids, cannabinoids, long term recovery and opioids in the workplace.


Dr. Paul Farnan BIO

Associate Clinical Professor UBC.
Past Executive Director Physician Health Program of BC.  Consultant Occupational Addiction Medicine.

Occupations Addiction Medicine Overview

Contingency management, medical monitoring and safe return to work., Diagnosis and recovery oriented treatment planning


Dr. William Lakey, Workplace Health and Safety, BC

Recovery though an Occupations Health Lens

Dr. William Lakey is an established and engaging leader in occupational health with the BC Public Service Agency. His leadership and vision have established the BC Public Service as a leader in the field, outperforming other jurisdictions across Canada in occupational health and disability management.


John Beckett

Vice-president with the BC Maritime Employers Association,  Chair, Board of Directors, Public Interest WorkSafeBC

Addiction & Recovery in the Workplace as an Employer HR/Safety Leader.

 


Rebecca Gowan   BIOSenior Policy Advisor, Human Rights Promotion Branch, Canadian Human Rights Commission

Human Rights, Substance Dependence, and Workplace Accommodation

A human rights perspective on substance dependence in the workplace, and an overview of the Canadian Human Rights Commission’s new guidelines


Neil Menard

Mayor of Merrit, IWA past Vice President

Panel Moderator, A Union Perspective,  how an effective jointly run, recovery oriented EFAP can function

Building Recovery Communities

BUILDING RECOVERY COMMUNITIES WORKSHOP

 

Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC ) is a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that is person-centered and builds on the strengths and resilience of individuals, families, and communities to achieve abstinence and improved health, wellness, and quality of life for those with or at risk of alcohol and drug problems.

The following speakers will present as a biopsychosocial team, community, social, physical, spiritual, psychological, and health will be discussed.

You will be able to return to your environment and use what you learned at this workshop to better understand how to provide an inclusive environment for a recovery community.

September 9th 10:50 am to 3 pm

Jason Howell BIO

Executive Director Recovery People

 

Recovery Oriented Systems of Care in Texas
Overview of peer and family Recovery Oriented Systems of Care in Texas, including Recovery housing, recovery community centers, recovery high schools, and collegiate recovery programs.

Dr. Jackie Hillios

Phoenix Multisport

Rebuilding lives in recovery through fitness and friendships

Leveraging the transformative power of physical activity and social connection to build sober active communities where members are able to rebuild their lives and heal the wounds of their past.


 

Dr. Lawrence Peltz

The Mindful Path to Addiction Recovery

Overview of peer and family Recovery Oriented Systems of Care in Texas, including Recovery housing, recovery community centers, recovery high schools, and collegiate recovery programs


Gary Thandi

Executive Director, Moving Forward Family Services

Substance Use Prevention and Intervention with Ethno-cultural Communities 

Pre-migration trauma, migration experience, marginalization, changes in family structure that occur upon migration, first, second or third generation identity, extended family and community influence.


Jim MyklebustOrchard Recovery Center

The Value of AA and the 12 Steps

A powerful tool for contented recovery.

Addressing the challenges and barriers, and showcasing British Columbia’s vibrant 12-step recovery community.

 


Brandy Kane MSW RCSW

Indigenous Studies

Indigenous Women and Recovery

From Now What to What’s Next?

From Now What to What’s Next? A Personal View from Two Decades in the Trenches of Recovery Advocacy

Ever since he stood up and spoke out for the first time in public, Willliam C. Moyers has carried the message about the power of addiction and the promise and possibility of recovery to audiences across the United States. As the vice president of public affairs at Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Moyers has dedicated his life to moving people, perceptions and policies away from a focus on the problem to a solution grounded in health care. Moyers’ presentation is a call to action for everyone motivated to help people overcome substance use disorders. And for the first time in his 21-year career at Hazelden Betty Ford, Moyers brings his message to Canada.


The participant will:
a) Understand and appreciate the history of addiction recovery advocacy and how public perception and public policy changed to improve access to professional care since the 1990s.
b) Gain knowledge about the key issues in the field today, from legalization of marijuana to the opiate epidemic to defining treatment outcomes and defining recovery.
c) Learn how to do your part to further reduce stigma about addiction and mental illness.

Meet the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions

Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions

We are pleased to announce that Minister Judy Darcy will address the delegates during the Recovery Capital Conference of Canada.  Minister Darcy will participate as a speaker, and as a a stakeholder, during a discussions meeting with Dr. João Goulão, Director-General of The General-Directorate for Intervention on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies (SICAD) in Lisbon, Portugal, and other health care leaders.

Register today for Canada’s premiere addiction recovery conference.

Keynote Speakers include:

Dr. João Goulão, Portugal
The Portuguese Experience

Dr. Neil McKeganey, Scotland
Drugs: Breaking the Cycle

Dr. John Kelly
Harvard Addiction Recovery Management

Dr. Claudia Black
Addiction and Trauma: Strengthening Young Adult Recovery

Dr. Patrick Carnes
Addiction and Sex 4.0

Addiction and Sex 4.0 with Leading Global Sex Addiction Expert Dr. Patrick Carnes

Sex addiction is one of the last addictions to be documented by science but it is transforming how we look at all other addictions.

Dr. Carnes will be a keynote Speaker at the Recovery Capital Conference of Canada on September 7th and 8th in New Westminster BC.

Here are a few questions he will clearify with science during his session.

  1. There is no common agreement on the diagnostic criteria of sex addiction –False                              
  2. Only a few addictions interact neurobiological – False    
  3. Addictions must be treated one at a time – False

Followed by a Panel from Edgewood Health Network to discuss solution to Sex Addiction, and how Recovery Capital is important to recovery.

The Panel includes

  • Dr. Christina Basedow
  • Elizabeth Loudon
  • Ann Sulivan
  • Nelson Sacristan

 

More about Dr. Patrick Carnes

Dr. Patrick Carnes, founder and primary architect of Gentle Path at The Meadows, is a world-renowned speaker and author on sex addiction and treatment. With more than 30 years in the sexual addiction treatment field, Dr. Carnes has been a major contributor to the advancement of sexual addiction treatment and research. His extensive knowledge, assessment tools and related materials deliver an unprecedented approach to addiction recovery.  

Dr. Carnes pioneered the founding of the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP), which specializes in training Certified Sex Addiction Therapists. From 1996 until 2004, Dr. Carnes was Clinical Director for Sexual Disorder Services at The Meadows.

His achievements include The Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH), where they present an annual “Carnes Award” to researchers and clinicians who have made exceptional contributions to the field of sexual health.

Publications By Dr. Carnes

  • Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction (the first work designed to help addicts deal with their sexual compulsions and to examine the issues found in family relationships.)
  • A Gentle Path Through the Twelve Principles
  • Recovery Zone
  • The Clinical Management of Sex Addiction
  • In the Shadows of the Net
  • Facing the Shadow
  • Open Hearts
  • The Betrayal Bond: Breaking Free of Exploitive Relationships
  • A Gentle Path Through the 12 Steps
  • Contrary to Love: Helping the Sexual Addict
  • 30 Task Model

Gentle Path At The Meadows

Dr. Carnes meets individually with each patient during their treatment at the Gentle Path at the Meadows and provides consistent training to and supervision of the program staff. Throughout the treatment process, he keeps our clinical team at the cutting-edge of advances in sex addiction treatment and research.patients Gentle Path at The Meadows located in Wickenburg, Arizona, provides an intensive, experientially based 45-day treatment program for men with the complex issues of sexual addictions.