TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Aug 16, 2024

Derek Scott, a law school graduate with a history of opioid use disorder, spent three years trying to obtain his law license in Tennessee but faced opposition due to his use of buprenorphine to maintain sobriety. He ultimately was licensed, but his story has received national attention and the U.S. Justice Department now reportedly is investigating his case. According to NBC News, despite protections offered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for individuals with substance use disorders, Scott encountered discrimination when the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners demanded he cease use of the medication as a condition for licensure. In related reporting, the news source looks at the issues and stigma surrounding medication-assisted treatment (MAT) and the barriers many individuals in recovery face.