NCJ Number
219931
Journal
Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 42 Issue: 7 Dated: 2007 Pages: 1035-1054
Date Published
2007
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study characterized fully employed and unemployed regular heroin users and identified independent demographic, human and social capital, and drug use characteristics associated with full employment.
Abstract
The study concludes that treatment efforts must include employment training in order to help heroin users obtain full employment and that the chances of recovery are far better for those who acquire skills and qualifications needed in higher occupation. Finding show that active heroin users seldom hold full-time employment and for those users who are employed the majority hold low level semi-skilled and unskilled types of jobs. Therefore, employment training is essential for transitioning to a conventional lifestyle. Additionally, human and social capitals of active heroin users are important assets for sustaining employment. Persons with human and social capital resources were more likely to be fully employed and less likely to use other drugs than unemployed users. Human capital resources such as education and stable living conditions help provide knowledge, skills, and individual social stability necessary for obtaining and sustaining full-time employment. Social capital refers to connections or social ties among individuals and societal institutions where the norms enable people to develop relationships, support networks and social obligations to one another. The study sample consisted of two groups of heroin users (n=488) from multiple communities in south Florida between July 1997 and February 2000. Individuals who had been employed in full-time jobs for at least the last 30 days were selected as cases (n=122) and users who had been unemployed for the last 30 days were selected as controls (n=366). Various multivariate logistic models were used for the study. Tables, references