Season 12 • Episode 976

976 - Championing the Just Treatment of People Who Use Substances

Nov 13, 2025

13:13

Addiction & Recovery Public Health Disability & Accessibility Health Policy

Episode Description

About this episode:

A single court case in North Carolina is holding skilled nursing facilities accountable to adopt anti-discrimination policies for those with a history of substance use. In this episode: Sally Friedman, part of the team behind this lawsuit, explains the case and why it could set a national precedent for the just treatment of people who use substances in health care.

Guests:

Sally Friedman, JD, is the Senior Vice President of Legal Advocacy at the Legal Action Center, where she leads a team of attorneys and paralegals that help over 1,500 clients annually to access jobs, housing, health care, and other basic rights.

Host:

Dr. Josh Sharfstein is distinguished professor of the practice in Health Policy and Management, a pediatrician, and former secretary of Maryland's Health Department.

Show links and related content:

Nursing facilities can't blanket ban people with addiction history, per N.C. settlement—STAT
Q&A with Disability Rights North Carolina's Sara Harrington and Dane Mullis—Legal Action Center
Disability Rights North Carolina—http://disabilityrightsnc.org
Discrimination Against Patients With Substance Use Disorder in Health Care Settings—Public Health On Call (January 2024)

Transcript information:

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