Chemical dependency treatment and employment outcomes: results from the 'ADATSA' program in Washington State | Knowledge Translation for Employment Research Center

Authors:	Luecking, D. M., & Luecking, R. G.
Year Published	2000
Publication	Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume	60
Number	2
Pages	151-159
Publisher	Elsevier
Background	In 1987, the Washington State legislature passed the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment and Support Act (ADATSA), creating a program for indigent adults deemed unemployable and incapacitated as a result of their addiction. This legislation was designed to provide treatment instead of the traditional public assistance/cash grants available.
Purpose	The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between chemical dependency treatment and subsequent earnings.
Setting	The setting included multiple methadone treatment centers in Washington State.
Sample	2195 clients were referred to an ADATSA assessment center and determined to be financially eligible for assistance. Of those assessed, 1537 individuals were found to be clinically eligible for treatment and 1228 entered treatment.
Data Collection	All data came from secondary sources, as there was no direct contact between researchers and clients. Data on earnings came from the wage and hour file collected by Washington State's Department of employment Security.
Control	There was no comparison or control condition.
Findings	Clients who completed their plan of treatment earned more than those who did not. Those clients who received vocational services, in addition to completing treatment, earned more than those who completed treatment only.
Conclusions	This study shows that clients once deemed "unemployable" can become productive.
URL	https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/rda/documents/research-4-45.pdf
Disabilities
Populations	Male & Female
Outcomes	Employment acquisition \| Full-time employment \| Part-time employment
NIDILRR Funded	Not Reported
Research Design	Observational
Peer Reviewed	Yes

Year Published

2000

Publication

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Volume

60

Number

2

Pages

151-159

Publisher

Elsevier

Background

In 1987, the Washington State legislature passed the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment and Support Act (ADATSA), creating a program for indigent adults deemed unemployable and incapacitated as a result of their addiction. This legislation was designed to provide treatment instead of the traditional public assistance/cash grants available.

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between chemical dependency treatment and subsequent earnings.

Setting

The setting included multiple methadone treatment centers in Washington State.

Sample

2195 clients were referred to an ADATSA assessment center and determined to be financially eligible for assistance. Of those assessed, 1537 individuals were found to be clinically eligible for treatment and 1228 entered treatment.

Data Collection

All data came from secondary sources, as there was no direct contact between researchers and clients. Data on earnings came from the wage and hour file collected by Washington State's Department of employment Security.

Control

There was no comparison or control condition.

Findings

Clients who completed their plan of treatment earned more than those who did not. Those clients who received vocational services, in addition to completing treatment, earned more than those who completed treatment only.

Conclusions

This study shows that clients once deemed "unemployable" can become productive.

URL

https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sites/default/files/SESA/rda/documents/research-4-45.pdf

Disabilities

Populations

Male & Female

Outcomes

Employment acquisition | Full-time employment | Part-time employment

NIDILRR Funded

Not Reported

Research Design

Observational

Peer Reviewed

Yes