The Unseen Overlap: How Recovery Embraces Human Rights

The Right to Health (Article 25, Universal Declaration of Human Rights): This right extends far beyond physical health to encompass mental and social well-being. For individuals battling addiction or disordered eating, access to comprehensive, evidence-based treatment, support services, and ongoing care is not a privilege, but a fundamental right. Denying access to these services due to lack of insurance, discriminatory policies, or insufficient resources is a direct affront to this right. When someone is denied life-saving medication for opioid use disorder or access to specialized therapy for anorexia, their right to health is compromised.

• • Source: United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

The Right to Liberty and Security of Person (Article 3): Addiction can strip individuals of their autonomy and freedom, leaving them enslaved by cravings and compulsive behaviors. Recovery is, in essence, a reclamation of this liberty. It’s about empowering individuals to make choices that serve their well-being, to live free from the constant threat of relapse, and to feel safe and secure in their own bodies and minds. Involuntary commitment, while sometimes necessary in acute crises, must always be weighed against the right to liberty and respect for personal autonomy, ensuring that interventions are therapeutic and time-limited.

The Right to Work and to Just and Favorable Remuneration (Article 23): Individuals in recovery often face significant barriers to employment, from past legal issues to the lingering effects of stigma. The right to earn a living, contribute to society, and live free from economic hardship is crucial for sustained recovery. Discriminatory hiring practices against those with a history of addiction or mental health issues undermine this right and perpetuate cycles of poverty and hopelessness. Supportive employment programs, vocational training, and fair chance hiring initiatives are human rights imperatives.

The Right to a Standard of Living Adequate for the Health and Well-being of Himself and of his Family (Article 25): This encompasses housing, food, clothing, medical care, and necessary social services. Stable housing, for instance, is not merely a convenience; it’s a cornerstone of recovery. Without a safe place to live, maintaining sobriety or managing an eating disorder becomes exponentially harder. Homelessness disproportionately affects individuals with substance use disorders, highlighting a systemic failure to uphold this basic human right.

Internalized stigma can lead individuals to feel shame, worthlessness, and reluctance to seek help, believing they don’t deserve it.

Public stigma manifests as discrimination in housing, employment, healthcare, and social circles. This can lead to marginalization, isolation, and a perpetuation of the very conditions recovery aims to alleviate.

Source: World Health Organization. (2023). Mental health: Stigma and discrimination. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-stigma-and-discrimination

Shared Experience: When individuals connect with others who have faced similar challenges, they realize they are not alone. This shared struggle dismantles isolation, a common companion of addiction and disordered eating. Hearing another person’s story of resilience can ignite a spark of hope that recovery is possible.

Mutual Support: Recovery communities (e.g., 12-step programs, peer support groups, online forums) provide a safe space for vulnerability, accountability, and encouragement. In these environments, individuals learn coping mechanisms, gain perspective, and receive validation for their experiences. This collective empowerment helps individuals reclaim their sense of agency and self-efficacy, fundamental aspects of liberty and dignity.

Advocacy and Empowerment: Beyond individual healing, recovery communities often become powerful advocates for policy change, challenging discriminatory practices and demanding better access to care. By raising their voices collectively, individuals in recovery assert their right to health, equality, and participation in society, transforming their personal journeys into a movement for human rights.