Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a serious public health concern contributing to health risks for individuals and communities. Recovery capital are client strengths associated with SUD recovery. Employment represents recovery capital associated with positive SUD treatment outcomes. However, the relationship between employment mechanisms and SUDs are not well understood. The present study investigates how specific employment variables at SUD treatment intake predict (a) successful treatment completion, (b) abstinence at six-month treatment follow-up, (c) reduced use at six-month treatment follow-up. Additionally, employment variable change is explored. A retrospective, cross-sectional investigation with logistic regression modeling to predict substance use at six-months post SUD treatment follow-up was used. Clients in the study period (1999-2016, N = 8,925) were a mean age of 31.7 (SD=11.8), mostly male (67.2%), and primarily White (86.6%). Results demonstrated that employment variables at intake predicted greater successful treatment completion, Wald χ2[36]=185.3, p<0.0001. However, greater employment strengths were predictive of maintained use at six-month follow-up rather than abstinence or reduced use. Further investigation showed, the best predictors of post-treatment recovery were months employed change (AOR=1.53, 95% CI=1.34-1.75) and days missed from work change (AOR=2.43, 95% CI=2.00-2.96). Counseling psychologists can help to improve substance use outcomes and the quality of life for those in SUD treatment by becoming involved in intervention design, consultation, and policy making that focuses on increasing employment length and reducing absenteeism due to substance use. Employment is one route to engagement that can help to improve the lives for those involved.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uiowa.edu/oai:ir.uiowa.edu:etd-8525 |
| Date | 01 January 2019 |
| Creators | Sahker, Ethan |
| Contributors | Ali, Saba Rasheed, Arndt, Stephan |
| Publisher | University of Iowa |
| Source Sets | University of Iowa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Copyright © 2019 Ethan Sahker |
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