abstract: 'Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use disorders exact a prodigious annual

  economic toll in the United States (U.S.), driven largely by lost

  productivity due to illness-related absenteeism, underemployment, and

  unemployment. While recovery from AOD disorders is associated with

  improved health and functioning, little is known specifically about

  increases in productivity due to new or resumed employment and who may

  continue to struggle. Also, because employment can buffer relapse risk

  by providing structure, meaning, purpose, and income, greater knowledge

  in this regard would inform relapse prevention efforts as well as

  employment-related policy. We conducted a cross-sectional, nationally

  representative survey of the U.S. adult population assessing persons who

  reported having resolved an AOD problem (n. = 2002). Weighted

  employment, unemployment, retirement, and disability statistics were

  compared to the general U.S. population. Logistic and linear regression

  models tested for differences in employment and unemployment among

  demographic categories and measures of well-being. Compared to the

  general U.S. population, individuals who had resolved an AOD problem

  were less likely to be employed or refired, and more likely to be

  unemployed and disabled. Certain recovering subgroups, including those

  identifying as black and those with histories of multiple arrests, were

  further disadvantaged. Conversely, certain factors, such as a higher

  level of education and less prior criminal justice involvement were

  associated with lower unemployment risk. Despite being in recovery from

  an AOD problem, individuals continue to struggle with obtaining

  employment, particularly black Americans and those with prior criminal

  histories. Given the importance of employment in addiction recovery and

  relapse prevention, more research is needed to identify employment

  barriers so that they can be effectively addressed.'
affiliation: 'Eddie, D (Corresponding Author), Harvard Med Sch, Recovery Res Inst,
  Ctr Addict Med, Massachusetts Gen Hosp, 151 Merrimac St,6th Floor, Boston, MA 02114
  USA.

  Eddie, David; Vilsaint, Corrie L.; Hoffman, Lauren A.; Bergman, Brandon G.; Kelly,
  John F.; Hoeppner, Bettina B., Harvard Med Sch, Recovery Res Inst, Ctr Addict Med,
  Massachusetts Gen Hosp, 151 Merrimac St,6th Floor, Boston, MA 02114 USA.'
article-number: '108000'
author: Eddie, David and Vilsaint, Corrie L. and Hoffman, Lauren A. and Bergman, Brandon
  G. and Kelly, John F. and Hoeppner, Bettina B.
author-email: deddie@mgh.harvard.edu
author_list:
- family: Eddie
  given: David
- family: Vilsaint
  given: Corrie L.
- family: Hoffman
  given: Lauren A.
- family: Bergman
  given: Brandon G.
- family: Kelly
  given: John F.
- family: Hoeppner
  given: Bettina B.
da: '2023-09-28'
doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108000
eissn: 1873-6483
files: []
issn: 0740-5472
journal: JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT
keywords: 'Employment; Unemployment; Under employment; Alcohol and other drugs;

  Substance use disorder; Addiction recovery; Disparities'
keywords-plus: 'QUALITY-OF-LIFE; ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES; ABSTINENCE; DISPARITIES;

  VALIDATION; COMMUNITY; OUTCOMES; SUPPORT; RELAPSE; STRESS'
language: English
month: JUN
number-of-cited-references: '49'
orcid-numbers: Hoffman, Lauren/0000-0002-9144-6950
papis_id: 09b902c2dba134383374ab0f6af9c2d4
ref: Eddie2020workingrecovery
researcherid-numbers: 'Hoffman, Lauren/AAI-2665-2021

  '
times-cited: '10'
title: 'From working on recovery to working in recovery: Employment status among a
  nationally representative US sample of individuals who have resolved a significant
  alcohol or other drug problem'
type: article
unique-id: WOS:000530202800003
usage-count-last-180-days: '2'
usage-count-since-2013: '12'
volume: '113'
web-of-science-categories: Psychology, Clinical; Substance Abuse
year: '2020'