THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AND VOCATIONAL FUNCTIONING AMONG PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL-ILLNESS

Substance use disorder is commonly believed to be a barrier to work, a nd vocational rehabilitation for people with severe mental illness. We examined the relationship between substance use disorder and vocation al functioning in people with severe mental illness using data from fi ve studies: two studies of supported employment, one study of assertiv e community treatment, and two studies of community support programs. Our analyses show few significant associations between substance use d isorder and competitive employment in the five studies. We conclude th at the presence of substance use disorder should not be used to exclud e clients from vocational rehabilitation or supported employment progr ams.