Improve Job Opportunities for At-Risk Individuals

Return to Opioid Top-Level Strategy Map or Zoom Map (Minimize Desire to Misuse Opioids)

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When peoeple don't have job opportunites, the likelihood of drug misuse increases.  Therefore, part of a comprehensive strategy should include specific efforts to create job opportunities for people who may choose to not misuse drugs if they have a job.  By targeting employment opportunities (and connections to those jobs) to people who might otherwise begin to misuse drugs, the community health benefits can increase. 

Background

• Opioid misuse and use disorders were 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.
• After the economic downturn in 2008, marijuana and other drug use increased as unemployment increased. This pattern is reflected in every age group except for the elderly.
• When teens (14-18) and young adults (18-25) are unemployed, the likelihood to abuse drug increases.

Tools & Resources

TR - Improve Job Opportunities

Scorecard Building

Potential Objective Details (Under Construction) 
Potential Measures and Data Sources (Under Construction) 
Potential Actions and Partners (Under Construction) 

Resources to Investigate

RTI - Improve Job Opportunities

PAGE MANAGER: [insert name here]
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT: [fill out table below]

Reviewer	Date	Comments

Sources

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