The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), via Partners for Recovery and the CSAT Office of Consumer Affairs, has sponsored the development of a Know Your Rights brochure to spread the word that Americans with substance use disorders are protected against discrimination. The Legal Action Center, leading national experts on the legal rights and responsibilities of people in treatment and in recovery from drug and alcohol problems, created the brochure.

The purpose of the brochure is to give people in treatment and in recovery, and their allies and advocates, the knowledge, tools and resources needed to protect and promote their rights and opportunities.

The Know Your Rights brochure:

• Informs individuals about the legal rights and opportunities of people in treatment and recovery, and
• Provides strategies and resources to overcome illegal discrimination and other legal barriers facing those who have, or are in treatment and recovery from, drug and alcohol problems.

The brochure is designed for allies and advocates of treatment and recovery, including:

• People in alcohol or drug treatment and in recovery, their allies, supporters, and advocates,
• Providers and promoters of alcohol and drug services,
• Recovery support organizations, and
• Volunteer organizations, employers, governmental agencies, and others who care about or work with people in treatment for, and in recovery from, alcohol and drug problems.

Read more on PFR's stigma reduction initiatives or download the brochure in English (PDF, 196KB) or download the brochure in Spanish (PDF, 199KB).