Vocational Exploration of Drug Dependent Clients

Abstract

The Kankakee Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Center had observed for about four years the vocational aspiration of clients who were on the methadone maintenance program. Specifically, their vocational behavior was somewhat unstable and involved poor vocational self-concepts and unstable work histories. Therefore, the Center in 1978 employed a Mental Health Consultant to work with the counselors to assess the vocational interest of clients and to intervene and significantly impact those individuals whose work histories were still erratic. As a result of the Center's efforts, it was concluded (after comparing 15 months of baseline data) that the clients were making some progress in attempting to seek and maintain jobs as well as evaluating their relationship to the present job position. The number of clients changing jobs and seeking new employment, however, did not change.