Improve Job Opportunities for At-Risk Individuals

Introductory Paragraph

When people don't have job opportunities, the likelihood of drug abuse increases. Therefore, part of a comprehensive strategy should include specific efforts to create job opportunities for people in order to strengthen their support systems and prevent them from abusing drugs. By targeting employment opportunities (and connections to those jobs) to people who might otherwise begin to abuse drugs, the health of the community can increase.

The effect that a job has on mental health is what makes it such a important factor in prevention. Cultivating a positive support system and a positive frame of mind is essential. In a population 18 and older it was shown that 10% more people who were unemployed used illegal substances in the past month then those that had a full time job. This is because of the general financial hardships that those who are unemployed face. This can create a stronger drive for escapism which can lead to drug abuse.

Sustaining recovery often means rebuilding lives. Many people in early recovery need assistance with basic job training skills and making plans to further their education. Others may have lost their professional license and ability to practice their former profession (e.g. nursing, stock broker, commercial truck driver, etc.). However, virtually all people in recovery face the additional challenge of stigma which is frequently associated with addiction -- no matter their efforts to address their health problems and stabilize their lives.

These issues become compounded when the individual has a criminal record. Helping those in recovery access opportunities for education, job training, and employment greatly enhances their ability to support themselves and their dependents, while also building self-worth and a sense of accomplishment. These latter attributes have come to be known as important elements of recovery capital, which collectively has been shown to incentivize sustained recovery while reducing the likelihood of relapse. Yet, for those with criminal histories, there are often systematic barriers and obstacles.

Treatment providers, recovery community organizations, and employers can all provide critical assistance in two primary areas: 1) helping individuals with SUD find treatment and long-term recovery supports and 2) assisting those new to recovery but ready for employment with access to job training, skill development, and identification of employment prospects. Employees in recovery have been shown to be loyal, productive members of the workforce and key assets to employers. Helping individuals secure the necessary treatment and/or recovery support which helps them sustain recovery, may involve the upfront costs of treatment and recovery support services, but ultimately serves to integrate them into a healthier lifestyle, with stable housing, gains in healthcare and social connections, and improvements to their employment and financial situations.

Key Information

Opioid use disorders are more common among people with lower family incomes, without health insurance or without jobs. In the United States, 18.1% of unemployed adults use illicit drugs – that’s more than double the percentage of users who are employed full-time. States with higher unemployment rates tend to have higher rates of drug use.

Many people in recovery have an extremely difficult time getting back into the workforce. A sizable portion of those in early recovery may have criminal histories, spotty or uneven work histories, or are dislocated workers. Because of these barriers, individuals in early recovery often struggle to find gainful employment. This is a major problem as the inability to obtain a steady job, stable housing and transportation are often the necessities required to achieve a quality lifestyle. That said, there are success strategies gaining traction that are working to help these individuals with their vocational challenges. Some innovative employers have created a recovery-friendly work environment and are more receptive to hiring “second chance” employees. With the help of targeted programs and resources, people in recovery can get back on their feet and move more swiftly through this life-changing process.

One of the more familiar vocational routes for individuals who have achieved a year or more of sobriety and who want to help others with addictive disorders is the pursuit of a job as a peer support specialist or recovery coach (hereafter peers.) Peers are individuals who have gained the requisite training and certification in their state to use their “lived experience” of addiction and recovery to help others seeking to secure and sustain their recovery. By working with a peer, an individual can walk through the challenges of recovery with someone who has “been there and done that,“ and relate more to their own challenges while receiving “hands on” feedback, regarding how they might approach rebuilding specific areas of their life. This dynamic helps both the peer and the person being served, perpetuates sound growth for both, and at its best, builds communities of recovery.

Some examples of vocational development that SUD treatment programs and Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs), alike, have traditionally employed include: resume development, mock interviews, job searches, and provision of support to the new employee outside their job structure. Having assistance to build resumes, practice job interviewing, and help identifying job opportunities can greatly increase a person’s chance of getting back into the workforce. Although there is a small, but ever-growing pool of businesses open to offering “second-chance” opportunities (See, Promising Practices below for examples), they represent an important and critical example of “early adopters,” among employment innovators. In securing local assistance, people in recovery can find “peers” who have lived through similar challenges and circumstances and offer their guidance and support. Distilling further the “success stories” of these treatment and recovery support organizations, should yield greater returns for those early in sobriety as they seek and secure employment and/or enhanced education/training.