Employment status and psychological symptomatology among drug users not currently in treatment

Previous research has investigated employment status and its correlates amo ng drug users in treatment programs; however, few studies have addressed th ese variables among out-of-treatment drug users. Thus, little is known abou t variables that are associated with employment status in this population. Using two separate samples of drug users not currently in treatment, this s tudy examined the relationship between employment status and psychological symptomatology, as measured by the Risk Behavior Assessment and Brief Sympt om Inventory. Results revealed that unemployed drug users who are not looki ng for work report consistently higher levels of psychological symptomatolo gy than do unemployed drug users looking for work or those employed. Althou gh future research is needed to explore the causal nature of these findings , they have immediate implications for vocational rehabilitation programs o r job training: programs targeted at drug users. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.