Vocational adjustment patterns of alcohol and drug misusers following treatment

Vocational adjustment following treatment was studied in 77 men patients (39 alcohol and 38 drug misusers) of a residential treatment program for substance misuse. Significantly more patients were employed at discharge from treatment, and at 1, 3 and 6 months postdischarge than at 1 month pretreatment. Patients employed at discharge experienced a significant decrease in employment level at 1, 3 and 6 months postdischarge. Patients who participated in outpatient treatment following discharge had significantly higher levels of employment at 3 months following discharge. Since there is a significant general decrease in employment level during the first 3 months postdischarge, it is suggested that counselors be aware of this as a vocational crisis period. The third through sixth months postdischarge are more stable. The first 3 months are especially important for younger drug misusers with legal problems. Alcoholics may sometimes need added incentive from vocational counselors because they tend to have fewer legal problems than drug misusers and therefore less outside pressure to gain employment.