Abstract
BACKGROUND: Adults with a history of opioid dependence may find it difficult to gain or maintain employment. Barriers to employment include a lack of education and skills, and relapse to drug use. OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of employment before, during, and after participation of detoxified opioid-dependent adults (n = 117) enrolled in a therapeutic workplace intervention and to identify predictors of post-intervention employment. METHODS: Analyses were conducted on self-reported employment information collected using the Addiction Severity Index-Lite and direct observation while enrolled in a model workplace intervention called the therapeutic workplace. RESULTS: Participants were more likely to work during the intervention (67% of days available) than before (1% of days available) or after (26% of days available) the intervention. Participants also reported working more after the intervention than before. Participants who reported working 6 months after the intervention had stronger work experience and attended the therapeutic workplace more frequently during the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Given the opportunity in a model workplace, unemployed detoxified opioid-dependent adults are more likely to attend a model workplace than to work in a community job.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 187-194 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- Drug misuse
- employment
- therapeutic workplace
- vocational training
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rehabilitation
- Occupational Therapy