Functional on...

[maiabulela]

Dear all,

A guy says "My dad's functional on medication, but I know my dad is a great person"

What is the meaning of the highlighted part? I've always known "functional" as an adj. The usage here is not familiar. I thought at first that "his dad works is the field of medication, but the second part of the sentence refers that the phrase has a negative connotation like "addiction" or something but I have no clue, I haven't found it on Google.

Thanks a lot.

[5jj]

I can only guess that it means that he is ill, mentally or physically, but he can function as a human being with the correct medication.

We would need more context to be sure of what is really meant.

[maiabulela]

I can only guess that it means that he is ill, mentally or physically, but he can function as a human being with the correct medication.

We would need more context to be sure of what is really meant.

No more context. He was generally speaking about his family.
but I got from you that "he was living on medication." but why you said "mentally or psychologically" ??

[5jj]

why you said did you say "mentally or psychologically" ??

I didn't.

[BobSmith]

A guy says "My dad's functional on medication, but I know my dad is a great person"

[not a teacher]

I think what might be unclear is that here, "functional" is short hand for "able to function", which is a common phrase meaning "able to do the most basic tasks", specifically with regards to persons.

Examples:

Although the disease has gotten worse, with medication, she is able to function normally.

1: Is he too drunk to drive?
2: No, he's able to function.

1: How depressed is he?
2: Well, he showed up for work with a tie on, so I guess he's functional.

[SoothingDave]

With addictions, like alcoholism, a distinction is often made between addicts who can "function" and those who can not. The former are able to perform in their jobs and in other tasks required to live in the world. The latter become consumed by their addiction.