Affiliations: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Kenneth Silverman, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 5200 Eastern Avenue, Ste. W142, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. Tel.: +1 410 550 2694; Fax: +1 410 550 7495; E-mail: ksilverm@jhmi.edu.
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.
Keywords: Drug misuse, employment, therapeutic workplace, vocational training
