The Effectiveness of Vocational Services for Substance Users in Treatment

Employment appears frequently in the literature as an outcome criterion for substance users in treatment, and most clinicians subscribe to the belief that work plays an important role in recovery from addiction. Despite the importance attached to employment, the major standard treatment modalities have not been shown as effective in increasing client employment after treatment. The article presents a critical review and synthesis of three decades of research on the effectiveness of specialized vocational intervention for addiction treatment clients.