Break the Cycle Stop the stigma
Children of Parents with
Alcohol& Drug Addiction
Did you know?
Alcohol is the drug most often associated with violence.
Source: Cychosz,C.(1996)
Alcohol and interpersonal violence: Implications for educators. Journal
of Health Education. 27(2), 7377.
Women & Substance
Abuse/ Addiction Issues and Women and known risks.
Every 44
seconds, a baby is born into poverty ...
Every minute, a baby is born without health insurance...
Every minute, a baby is born to a teen mother..
Every 2 hours, a child or youth under 20 is killed by a
firearm...
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Stereotype-Blatant
Discrimination rooted in unfounded fear....Rep. Steve
Scalise, R-Metairie,
said that his
House Bill 1645
is aimed at
Oxford House,
Inc.
a nonprofit organization that, supports a network of individual Oxford Houses, 31 in
Louisiana. The fears appear to be based in untreated
addiction, not recovery. Tens of thousands of people not in
recovery live in communities across the state. Only those in
recovery from alcoholism and addiction live in Oxford Houses.
That is the purpose to provide a mutual recovering environment in
our communities.
Oxford House is not a treatment center, halfway house, or "group
home". It is a residence made up of recovering people.
This communal environment greatly supports long term recovery for
individuals, and reduces the impact of alcoholism and addiction in
our communities. |
  Plan
to attend:
9:30a.m.
Senate Hearing
See Agenda
Tuesday-June 15, 2003
HB 1645 ASSIGNED TO SENATE &
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
(this may change to Appropriations b/c of a 1.9 million fiscal note)
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Senate & Governmental Affairs Committee |
Discrimination against Oxford House in Louisiana?
One neighborhood in Metairie, Louisiana has stated that they do not
want alcoholics, addicts, or mentally ill people living in their
area, and are supporting their legislator in pushing HB 1645
into law. Governor Blanco's administration spoke in opposition
to this bill (which as of 6/13/04 had passed the full House).
Political Motivation?
Scalise, Running for Congress, and
with the intent of changing the federal law he said in the House
Committee hearing.
Because the federal protection is in place, and validated by
the U.S. Supreme Court, for recovering people, he filed legislation
that would force the State to violate the the Federal Housing Act with his HB 1645,
by preventing the state to contract with Oxford House.
This legislation is discriminatory, as the testimony clearly
outlined Rep. Scalise belief that alcoholism and drug addiction were
"choices", and should not be provided protection from discrimination
like other disabilities was loud and clear. In addition, the
community members speaking in committee identified mental illness
and alcoholism to be disapproved upon and not welcomed in their
neighborhood. This is of course Rep. Scalise's opinion, which
greatly differs from Congress, U.S. Supreme Court, and the White
House (President Bush is actually calling for more community
integration not less).
From HB 1645:
Proposed law
"adds a determination that in the case of drug and alcohol
rehabilitation centers or group homes, the using agency has
confirmed and documented in writing that the contracting entity is
in full compliance with local zoning laws or regulations. Further
prohibits the approval of such contracts if such entities are in
fact in violation of local zoning laws or regulations. (Adds R.S.
39:1498(A)(10) and (C))"
C. No contract with any entity listed in Paragraph
(A)(10) shall be approved if it is determined that such entity is in
fact in violation of any local zoning laws or 16 regulations. 17
Fair Housing Act and the ADA will be there to provide a remedy
City of Edmonds v. Oxford House in which the Supreme Court
disallowed occupancy standards designed to prevent the operation of
group homes for the disabled
115 S.Ct. 1776 (1995).
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