According
to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), people in Appalachia are 65% more
likely to die from a drug overdose than those living in the rest of the
country. Here in Alleghany County we experienced 11 drug overdose deaths from
2012-2016. While it is obvious that substance abuse is a health concern that
strains our community’s social structure, a less obvious impact is how this
crisis effects our local workforce.
Substance
abuse is a complex problem with tentacles that reach into an individual’s life,
the lives of their family members and out into the greater community. This complexity makes successful, long-term
interventions difficult to implement.
And due to the individualized nature of the problem, it is difficult to
apply strategies with the hope that “one size fits all.”
To
better understand what is working in Appalachian communities, the ARC is
conducting a series of Recovery to Work Listening Sessions. Throughout the
region, representatives from public and private organizations that are engaged
in substance abuse treatment, recovery programs, and job training and placement
are meeting with educators and employers to discuss how we move people along
the path from addiction to recovery to skills training to meaningful employment.
A session was recently held on the
campus of Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, NC.
The
morning session brought together 35-40 individuals who set out to answer
several broad questions. One that was
especially enlightening sought to clarify the barriers that impede someone on
their journey from addiction to employment.
The answers that surfaced repeatedly were striking in their need for
community engagement.
Recovery
for most is a mixture of obtaining educational or job training, participation in 12 Step
or other similar programs, and becoming gainfully employed. This often translates to long days of moving
from one place to another which can create transportation challenges. It is not
surprising that many suffering with addiction have driving records that
prohibit them from being licensed drivers or affording automobile
insurance. This forces those in recovery
to rely on family and friends or public transportation to get them to where
they need to be. Since many entry level
jobs occur during early morning hours, at night or on weekends, the
transportation needs are intensified.
Missing work or appointments due to unreliable transportation was noted
as one of the biggest obstacles for those in recovery.
Adequate
housing was also listed as one of the top barriers. Those with felony convictions, low credit
scores, and poor rental records often find it is virtually impossible to find
suitable housing. Substandard housing
often leads to higher energy costs. This
inability to secure proper housing can also inhibit or prevent the return of
children from foster care.
Affordable
childcare can be a challenge for someone reentering the job market. In Alleghany County we have a noted lack of
available childcare. Again factoring in
nights and weekend employment, child care is almost nonexistent.
Finally,
low self-esteem can be a substantial barrier for reemployment. After hearing (many for years) that they are
“a disappointment,” or that they are an “addict” or a “drunk” many lack the
self-confidence for the journey to productive work. One innovative program director described how
their goal was for everyone to leave their program clean and sober, and with a
good set of teeth. She shared that they
had found that poor dental condition was a substantial barrier to
employment. She added that a pretty set
of teeth also returns a smile that communicates confidence and relatability –
both key factors in landing a job.
Why
should we care about those on this journey?
After all, many have made a series of poor life choices and now must pay
for those choices. Is it really our
concern whether they get a job?
The
short answer is yes.
Various
sources estimate that substance abuse costs the national economy over $500 billion
each year. That number seems
unbelievably high until we consider an overwhelming percentage of crime and
negative health outcomes are tied to alcohol and drug abuse. The National Drug
Intelligence Center estimates that a lack of productivity due to substance
abuse in the workplace costs employers $49 billion each year. Those costs are passed on to us as consumers.
Locally, most employers will attest that an inability to pass drug screenings
is a top disqualifier for job applicants.
The costs associated with substance abuse effects us all.
It
also personal.
Many
of us know firsthand the devastating effects of drug and alcohol abuse on our
families. We can argue whether addiction
is a disease or a result of poor choices.
We can debate whether we approach this problem through a lens of tough
love or compassion or some combination of the two. One thing is certain – few people
successfully travel the path from addiction to recovery to work without a peer
coming alongside them to serve as a guide – a North Star, helping plot the
course for the journey.
Transportation,
housing, childcare and a timely helping hand are way points along the path of
that journey.
***
This post originally appeared in the Alleghany (NC) News on 2/6/19
