Addiction Treatment and Work-Related Outcomes: Examining the Impact of Employer Involvement and Substance of Choice on Absenteeism, Tardiness, and Productivity

Abstract

This study quantified the benefits of inpatient addiction treatment by examining its impact on work-related variables. Participants were 154 employed adults who completed addiction treatment and measures of absenteeism, tardiness, and productivity at pretreatment and 6-months follow-up. The impact of substance of choice and employer involvement was examined. Treatment produced significant improvements in all three variables. Furthermore, even though workplace variables differed significantly based on substance of choice and employer involvement, participants reported comparable outcomes at follow-up. Based on these results, a conservative cost-benefit analysis of inpatient treatment is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• addiction
• substance abuse treatment
• workplace outcomes

Notes

*p < .001.

Note. M = Mean. SD = Standard Deviation. Frequency of drinking days and days used drugs are based on participants’ self-reported estimates of the last six months.

*p < .01.

**p < .001.

*p<0.05.

**p<0.001.

*p<0.05.

**p<0.005.

***p<0.001.

^a Canadian dollars.

^b Average duration of problematic substance use reported by participants prior to entering treatment.