Employment outcomes for hard-to-reach persons with chronic and severe substance use disorders receiving assertive community treatment | Knowledge Translation for Employment Research Center

Authors:	Gold, P., Meisler, N., Santos, A., Carnemolla, M., Williams, O., & Keleher, J.
Year Published	2004
Publication	Substance Use and Misuse
Volume	39
Number	13
Pages	2425-2489
Publisher	Informa Healthcare
Background	Individuals with the most chronic and severe substance use disorders receive little clinical and rehabilitative benefit from treatment programs.The majority drop out of intensive outpatient programs and therapeutic communities within 30 days of admission. Those who do complete planned treatment fail to generalize the benefits associated with abstinence and the development of other skills to employment. Less than one third work and those who do earn wages below poverty levels. This population may improve employment outcomes with long term integrated substance abuse rehabilitation and support services like the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)approach. This team based approach will be expensive. Cost-benefit analysis is needed to persuade states to adopt this method.
Purpose	The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the ACT approach with individuals who experience severe substance use disorders.
Setting	The setting for the study was Ernest E. Kennedy Center, a private nonprofit center providing treatment for substance dependence serving Berkeley and Charleston counties in coastal South Carolina.
Sample	The study sample included 35 individuals with severe substance use disorders.
Data Collection	A wide range of clinical, functional, and psycho-social processes and outcomes were measured. Measures were completed at three time-points: admission to the ACT program (baseline), and 6 months and 12 months post admission.
Control	The study included a single-group design. Participants functioned as own controls.
Findings	Thirty four of the 35 clients completed the 2-year service demonstration project. Generally, clients modestly reduced substance misuse and increased employment.
Conclusions	The project shows promising outcomes, however the sample size was small and limits inferences of causation and generalization of the process.
URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15603010
Disabilities
Populations	Male & Female
Outcomes	Employment acquisition \| Return to work \| Wages
NIDILRR Funded	No
Research Design	Single group
Peer Reviewed	Yes

Year Published

2004

Publication

Substance Use and Misuse

Volume

39

Number

13

Pages

2425-2489

Publisher

Informa Healthcare

Background

Individuals with the most chronic and severe substance use disorders receive little clinical and rehabilitative benefit from treatment programs.The majority drop out of intensive outpatient programs and therapeutic communities within 30 days of admission. Those who do complete planned treatment fail to generalize the benefits associated with abstinence and the development of other skills to employment. Less than one third work and those who do earn wages below poverty levels. This population may improve employment outcomes with long term integrated substance abuse rehabilitation and support services like the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT)approach. This team based approach will be expensive. Cost-benefit analysis is needed to persuade states to adopt this method.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the ACT approach with individuals who experience severe substance use disorders.

Setting

The setting for the study was Ernest E. Kennedy Center, a private nonprofit center providing treatment for substance dependence serving Berkeley and Charleston counties in coastal South Carolina.

Sample

The study sample included 35 individuals with severe substance use disorders.

Data Collection

A wide range of clinical, functional, and psycho-social processes and outcomes were measured. Measures were completed at three time-points: admission to the ACT program (baseline), and 6 months and 12 months post admission.

Control

The study included a single-group design. Participants functioned as own controls.

Findings

Thirty four of the 35 clients completed the 2-year service demonstration project. Generally, clients modestly reduced substance misuse and increased employment.

Conclusions

The project shows promising outcomes, however the sample size was small and limits inferences of causation and generalization of the process.

URL

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15603010

Disabilities

Populations

Male & Female

Outcomes

Employment acquisition | Return to work | Wages

NIDILRR Funded

No

Research Design

Single group

Peer Reviewed

Yes