Is Addiction Classed as a Disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995?

Posted in : First Tuesday Q&A NI on 10 March 2023
Chris Fullerton
Arthur Cox NI
Issues covered: Disabilities; Addictions

A disability is defined by Section 1(1) Disability Discrimination Act 1995  to be a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on an individual’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Whilst various conditions do fall within the definition of a disability, there are certain conditions that fall outside the scope of the statutory definition, such as an individual who is addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Employers may have individuals within their workforce suffering from substance abuse, whether it is known or unknown to them. However, it is important for employers to be aware that an employee who is an addict, whether it is to

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Back to Q&A's This article is correct at 10/03/2023
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The information in this article is provided as part of Legal-Island's Employment Law Hub. We regret we are not able to respond to requests for specific legal or HR queries and recommend that professional advice is obtained before relying on information supplied anywhere within this article.

Chris Fullerton
Arthur Cox NI

The main content of this article was provided by Chris Fullerton. Contact telephone number is 028 9023 0007 or email Chris.Fullerton@arthurcox.com

View all articles by Chris Fullerton