From Addiction to Recovery to Meaningful Employment

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.  

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This post originally appeared in the Alleghany (NC) News on 2/6/19