Rights of residents of social welfare homes and prevention and therapy of addictions and co-dependence

The liberal approach of the Polish society to people who consume alcohol changes dramatically when someone turns out to be addicted to alcohol. In relation to alcohol dependent patients moral rigidity along with judgmental attitude dominates. Alcoholism is not the only type of addiction. In relation to people addicted to drugs, the negative attitude in society is also expressed. Health harm and social problems, driven by alcohol and drug addiction, have been profoundly accumulated in the long term care social welfare facilities. Based on the Polish Constitution and relevant laws employees of social welfare homes are obliged to respect the rights of residents. Nonetheless, the Polish Ombudsman (the Commissioner for Human Rights) revealed numerous examples of violations of the residents’ rights. This phenomenon is particularly intensified in the case of addicted residents of long term care social welfare facilities. In addition, alcohol and drug addiction nursing facilities drives antisocial behaviours towards non-addicted vulnerable residents. Nevertheless, the rights of non-addicted residents to be protected from harm resulting from alcohol and drug addiction of other residents have been profoundly neglected. The aim of the paper is therefore to comprehensively describe the problem of addiction in social welfare homes, give the most striking examples of breaking the rights of residents and suggest some solutions aimed at better protection of the rights of both addicted and non-dependent residents of social welfare homes in Poland.  

The liberal approach of the Polish society to people who consume alcohol changes dramatically when someone turns out to be addicted to alcohol. In relation to alcohol dependent patients moral rigidity along with judgmental attitude dominates. Alcoholism is not the only type of addiction. In relation to people addicted to drugs, the negative attitude in society is also expressed. Health harm and social problems, driven by alcohol and drug addiction, have been profoundly accumulated in the long term care social welfare facilities. Based on the Polish Constitution and relevant laws employees of social welfare homes are obliged to respect the rights of residents. Nonetheless, the Polish Ombudsman (the Commissioner for Human Rights) revealed numerous examples of violations of the residents’ rights. This phenomenon is particularly intensified in the case of addicted residents of long term care social welfare facilities. In addition, alcohol and drug addiction nursing facilities drives antisocial behaviours towards non-addicted vulnerable residents. Nevertheless, the rights of non-addicted residents to be protected from harm resulting from alcohol and drug addiction of other residents have been profoundly neglected. The aim of the paper is therefore to comprehensively describe the problem of addiction in social welfare homes, give the most striking examples of breaking the rights of residents and suggest some solutions aimed at better protection of the rights of both addicted and non-dependent residents of social welfare homes in Poland.