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Work therapy gets rid of drug addiction
Publish Date : 12/1/2004 12:32:00 PM   Source : Health News Onlypunjab.com

A new study conducted by researchers  at
the  University of Houston suggests that employment  reduces  the
chronic drug use of female welfare recipients.

The  study  led by Isaac D. Montoya found that welfare  reform  -
primarily  designed  to transition women from welfare to  work  -
also  may  be a significant factor in drug abuse  prevention  and
education.

"Our research yielded such significant results that we feel these
findings ultimately can and should be extrapolated to  additional
populations.  In  the U.S., alone, nearly  20  million  Americans
abuse drugs, with women being less likely to seek treatment  than
men.  And the fact that risk factors and predictors  vary  across
demographics   underscores  the  need  to  target  various   sub-
populations," he said.

To  establish a preventative model in populations with high  risk
and  low  protective  factors, the  researchers  selected  female
Temporary  Assistance  to  Needy  Family  (TANF)  recipients   to
participate in the study. Employment was selected as the  primary
prevention  strategy for women who were not participating in  any
drug treatment programs during the study.

Out of the 534 participants analyzed in the first year, one-third
reported  being  chronic  drug  users  of  cocaine,  heroin   and
methamphetamines, using an average of 14 times a week. At intake,
five  percent  of  these  individuals  reported  being  employed.
Employment  rates and hours during this first year were  measured
by  interviewing  participants quarterly, with  employment  among
drug-users rising to approximately 39 percent.

During  the  second  year, the focus shifted  to  the  effect  of
employment  on drug usage, finding that drug use fell 79  percent
among  users who remained employed. With average  usage  dropping
from 14 times a week to three, the findings showed that drug  use
frequency decreased as employment hours increased.

A  positive  correlation  was found between  employment  and  the
reduction  of  chronic  drug  use  within  welfare   populations,
providing  definitive  data  that supports "work  therapy"  as  a
tertiary prevention model for drug addiction as an alternative or
in  addition  to traditional therapy options  like  programs  and
meetings.

"The  study  demonstrates  that  welfare  reform  policy  has  an
unintended  benefit. Employment promotes a healthy  lifestyle  by
providing  structure,  income  and benefits  that  increase  self
esteem and a sense of purpose. These elements may not be provided
when recipients simply attend 12-step meetings," Montoya added.

The  study  also  showed that top predictors of  drug  abuse  are
linked  to  risk  and  protective  factors  and  that  prevention
programs  should be designed to enhance protective factors  while
reducing risks. (ANI)