Obstacles to the utilization of vocational services: an analysis of the literature

While employment has been linked to positive clinical outcomes with drug abusers, research suggests that many treatment programs do not emphasize vocational services and under-utilize vocational resources. This article summarizes potential client-, program-, and societal-level obstacles to vocational rehabilitation service delivery identified in past studies with both substance abusers and other related client groups. Obstacles identified for related groups are integrated with issues relevant to drug treatment clients. This analysis is based on literature published over the last 20 years.