This paper reviews the microeconomic theory underlying the work/leisure tra
deoff and how this tradeoff may be manifested among substance users. The ef
fects of drug use, demographic factors. and income factors on the probabili
ty of labor force participation are analyzed in a sample of 687 male and 32
7 female drug users. The decision not to seek employment appears to be asso
ciated primarily with non-job-related sources of income (including illegal
sources).