YOUTH EMPLOYMENT DRUG PROBLEM - AN APPROACH TO INCREASING THE EMPLOYABILITY OF YOUTHFUL DRUG USERS (FROM REVIEW OF YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROBLEMS, PROGRAMS AND POLICIES, V 2 - SPECIAL NEEDS AND CONCENTRATED PROBLEMS)

• NCJ Number: 67121
• Author(s): P G VARGAS
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED FOR JUVENILE DRUG USERS TO UPGRADE THEIR SELF-IMAGES AND SUBSTITUTE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SATISFACTIONS FOR DRUGS.

Abstract

FEW DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE JOB TRAINING OR PLACEMENT ACTIVITES, BUT CONCENTRATE ON MEDICAL PROBLEMS OF DRUG USERS. DRUG USE IS A RESPONSE TO MALADJUSTMENT, AND YOUTHS USUALLY TAKE DRUGS TO RESTORE A LEVEL OF EMOTIONAL SATISFACTION LOST AS THE SECURITY OF CHILDHOOD WAS REPLACED BY THE INSTABILITY AND ANXIETIES OF ADOLESCENCE. THUS DRUG USE CAN BE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED BY STRATEGIES WHICH PRODUCE HIGHER LEVELS OF SATISFACTION ACCOMPANIED BY AN IMPROVED SELF-IMAGE. EMPLOYMENT NOT ONLY ACCOMPLISHES THIS, BUT ALSO PROVIDES HIGHER SOCIAL STATUS AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS. THE 1978 COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ACT (CETA) AMENDMENT AND THE 1972 DRUG ABUSE OFFICE AND TREATMENT ACT CONTAIN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK NECESSARY TO INTEGRATE EMPLOYMENT AND DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS. TRAINEES SHOULD FIRST RECEIVE CORRECTIVE MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL HELP AND THEN BE TRAINED IN SPECIAL JOB SKILLS WHICH RELECT GENUINE MANPOWER NEEDS OF MODERN INDUSTRY. BASIC LITERACY, SOCIAL SKILLS, AND JOB HUNTING SKILLS WOULD ALSO BE TAUGHT. A JOB PLACEMENT SYSTEM COULD RECRUIT POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS AND EVALUATE THE PROGRESS OF THE PROGRAM'S GRADUATES. CETA PROGRAMS COULD BE REORGANIZED TO SERVE AS DRUG TREATMENT/REHABILITATIVE PROJECTS. CHANNELING YOUNG PERSONS INTO EMPLOYMENT WOULD REDUCE CRIMES COMMITTED TO SUPPORT THE DRUG HABIT. THE APPENDIX PROVIDES A FLOW CHART AND DESCRIPTION OF A MODEL EX-DRUG USER JOB BRIDGE SYSTEM. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MJM)