Stigma related to alcohol and other drug (AOD) use is highly prevalent in society, including within the workplace. Workers who use AOD in ways contrary to social norms may be subject to negative assumptions regarding their capacity to be valuable employees. As a result, they can experience discrimination in hiring and career progression decisions, as well as marginalization and exclusion from full participation in work life. Workplaces may also implement policies and procedures in an effort to manage employee AOD use but in doing so inadvertently promote and perpetuate the stigmatization of individuals who use AOD. A “whole-of-workplace” approach is recommended as an alternative method of addressing workplace AOD use without concomitantly increasing stigma. In addition, a number of targeted antistigma strategies are suggested to decrease AOD-related stigma in the workplace, including information and education, workplace policies and supports, and societal strategies.

The Stigma of Addiction in the Workplace

Objective Incarceration and substance use disorders/mental illness can have a significant negative impact on finding employment. However, it is unclear in what phase of the search for employment, that is, applying for jobs, obtaining interviews, being offered employment, does time incarcerated have the most effect. This study will determine how time incarcerated in the past 10 years is associated with negative job search process outcomes. Method This study evaluates 84 (81 men and 3 women) veterans with substance use disorders and histories of felony convictions. Four path analyses were conducted to evaluate models that incorporated time incarcerated at the different phases. Results The superior model incorporated time incarcerated negatively affecting the number of interviews obtained. Models that assessed the association between time incarcerated with applications submitted and likelihood of being offered employment did not demonstrate adequate goodness-of-fit. Conclusion and implications for practice Overall, the findings demonstrate the ex-offenders enrolled exhibited similar effort in searching for employment across time incarcerated. Also, employers are equally likely to hire those with felony histories, regardless of the time incarcerated, once the applicant has been met and interviewed. The results highlight the need for services focusing on breaking down stigma and reducing barriers that screen out ex-offenders from being interviewed by employers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

The association between time incarcerated and the search for employment in a veteran sample with substance use disorders.

The purpose of this study is to examine the psychological self-sufficiency (PSS) process among low-income individuals participating in the Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP) program and explore the implications of TIP as a SUD recovery intervention. A sample of 622 individuals from 9 local job training programs in a large Midwestern city was used to examine the group differences in substance abuse barrier and employment hope as they relates to economic self-sufficiency (ESS). Individuals in the TIP program (n = 315) had statistically significant path coefficients between substance abuse barriers, employment hope and ESS while the non-TIP counterpart (n = 307) showed a significant path only between employment hope and ESS. Also, the time difference score in substance abuse barrier and ESS was greater for the TIP group compared to the non-TIP comparison group. Results provide implications for social work practice among persons with SUDs. While the traditional employment programs focused only on the interview and job skills, TIP allowed participants to discover their resources to address the inner obstacles that have been holding them back. TIP could serve as a promising model to treat SUDs and support the recovery process.

Transforming Impossible into Possible (TIP) for SUD recovery: a promising practice innovation to combat the opioid crisis

Aim: Work is an important part of most people's everyday lives and well-being. Substance use by employees is associated with several negative consequences, such as absence from work and poor work performance. The study examines the strategies through which people who have problems with substance use produce a “normal” self and avoid becoming stigmatised in the workplace. Methods: The study uses data from in-depth unstructured life story interviews, which were conducted over phone with 13 people. The participants had developed various problematic heavy substance use habits. The interviews were analysed by applying interactional analysis and by using Goffman's concepts of “normality”, “embarrassment”, “face-work”, “stigma” and “performance”. Results: The analysis identified multiple strategies the participants used to produce normality and to avoid embarrassment and stigmatisation at work. These include skilful use of drugs in order not to show withdrawal symptoms, various ways of hiding their heavy substance use, frequent change of jobs, the maintenance of a clean and professional look, and attributing the absence from work to mental or physical illness. Moreover, the participants strategically avoided social contacts in which embarrassing situations could arise. When this was not possible, they manipulated their corporeal looks by hiding such kinds of bodily marks that would connote abnormality. Conclusion: The analysis points out that maintaining normality at work does not only refer to the efforts of trying to hide the effects of the drugs on behaviours and the body. It also reveals that the participants used substances to be able to perform energetically their work tasks, and in this way present themselves as normal workers. This ambivalence in performing normality makes the work life of people who use substances challenging.

Performing normality in working life among heavy substance users

Background Young people recovering from drug addiction often face challenges in returning to the job market and in maintaining their jobs. Many of them feel they have no choice but to do entry-level work, and they are often unsure about their work ability and vocational choice. Objective In collaboration with a youth outreach service, this study aims to provide a package of vocational assessment, guidance, and support for these clients. Methods Using a strength-based case management framework, we conducted a comprehensive vocational evaluation for each participant (N = 17), which covered self-perception of abilities, work and occupational interests, work readiness, work-related self-efficacy, and work aptitudes. We presented assessment results to each client and provided guidance on their education, training, or vocational choice. Results The results of aptitude tests indicate that most participants can cope with an entry-level job. Many participants are strong in jobs that require quick decision-making, sorting, assembly, and clerical tasks, but many are weak in fine manual dexterity and eye-hand-foot coordination. Many participants preferred jobs that are creative, indefinite, and autonomous in nature. Conclusion Longer-term vocational counseling and coaching is needed to help clients make vocational choices and extend their job tenure. Many clients will also need training in job seeking and job maintenance skills.

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Vocational evaluation and vocational guidance for young people with a history of drug abuse.

Background Women in metropolitan areas have lower employment participation and employment rates than men Although women face multiple challenges in the labor market, those who have a history of substance use and are abstinent may have a greater disadvantage in obtaining viable employment opportunities due to factors associated with substance use No research to date has examined employment experiences among women in recovery from substance use Objective This study examined employment characteristics and experiences of women who had a history of substance use and lived in sober-living environments in urban areas Method Data were collected through telephone interviews to sober living homes that were located in 20 urban areas Results Themes identified through thematic analysis included employment challenges, the importance of work to substance abuse recovery, job satisfaction, employment aspirations, and employment support in the sober living home Conclusion Employment is important to women in substance abuse recovery, not only as a means for financial support, but also as a life priority The results highlight how employer scheduling practices, low-level positions, and lack of employment supports impact recovery Findings provide insight into the need for employment support services, including employer education and flexible policies for women in recovery

Joyce K. Sinakhone

Papers

Good job, bad job: The employment experiences of women in recovery from substance abuse.