Employment Status of Veterans Receiving Substance Abuse Treatment From the US Department of Veterans Affairs

Objective: This study examined employment outcomes of veterans with substance use disorders and comorbid general medical and psychiatric disorders following substance abuse treatment. Methods: The authors obtained employment and other information reported by 5,729 veterans at intake and at follow-up three to nine months after receiving substance abuse treatment from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs during 2001-2010. Random-effects logistic regression models examined the probability of having employment earnings and days of paid work during the past 30 days among veterans with comorbid conditions. Results: The percentage of veterans with any days of paid work rose from 28% at intake to 35% at follow-up. Veterans with comorbid anxiety and general medical conditions had lower odds of having earnings from employment or days of paid work at follow-up. Conclusions: Veterans with substance use disorders, particularly those with comorbid general medical and anxiety disorders, may be at risk of employment problems.