Table 2.
Effects of Substance-Use Disorders on Unemployment/Employment.
| Data Source, N, Age |
Authors | Substance-Use Variables | Labor Market Outcomes |
Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France, CONSTANCES 2012/2018, 1427, 18–69 |
El Haddad et al., 2022 [46] | Tobacco and cannabis use, alcohol frequency of use and dependence | Unemployment/ Employment |
Tobacco and risky alcohol use do not significantly affect employment unlike weekly use of cannabis (OR 1.73) and alcohol dependence (OR 1.65). |
| Denmark, DNHS, 2010, 84,474, 18–60 | Egan, K. et al., 2021 [47] | Median alcohol consumption, problem drinking, current smoker | Unemployment/ Employment |
People who drink more alcohol up to problem drinking are more likely affected to become unemployed. |
| Spain, EDADES, 2007/2013, 22,862, 15–64 | Casal, B. et al., 2020 [40] | Consumption of cannabis, cocaine and both of them | Unemployment/ Employment |
Cannabis and cocaine use has an higher impact on unemployment, especially in economic recession. |
| Denmark, DNHS, 2010, 86,417, 18–60 | Bæksgaard Jørgensen, M. et al., 2019 [51] | Median alcohol consumption, problem drinking, current smoker | Unemployment/ Employment |
People who drink more alcohol up to problem drinking are more likely affected to become unemployed; moreover, they have a lower chance to return to work. |
| France, CONSTANCES, 2012–2016, 18,879, 18–69 | Airagnes, G. et al., 2019 [52] | Consumption of alcohol, tobacco and cannabis |
Unemployment/ Employment |
All the substance-use variables show correlation with short-term unemployment. |
| Germany, SUNRISE, 2021, 87, 24–54 | Scherbaum, N. et al., 2018 [25] | Abuse/addiction of alcohol, opioids, cannabis, sedatives, hypnotics, cocaine and stimulants; hallucinogen abuse; polydrugmania |
Unemployment | On average, 11 years after the start of substance use, the majority of participants become unemployed. |
| USA, NESARC, 2001–2004/2012–2013, 23,446/23,346, ≥18 |
Okechukwu, C. et al., 2018 [38] |
Past year marijuana use and use disorder, lifetime alcohol and drug disorder |
Unemployment/ Employment |
Past year marijuana use increases the risk of job loss by 50%, especially with daily use. |
| USA, FTDO, 1992–1994, n.a., n.a. | Chintakrindi, S. et al., 2015 [55] | Drug use prior to arrest (alcohol, marijuana, uppers, cocaine, crack, heroin, any drugs) | Unemployment/ Employment |
Substance use is negatively associated with employment. |
| Finland, SF, 2000–2007, 204,422, 45–64 | Paljärvi, T. et al., 2014 [42] | Alcohol-related death in relation to average annual number of days | Unemployment/ Employment |
In total, 56% of alcohol-related deaths concern people who were employed ten years prior death; and this about two years less in comparison to people who died of other reasons and five years less in comparison to people who did not die. |
| USA, n.a. 1983/1985–1986/1992/1997/2002/2007/2012–2013, 528, ∅43 | Brook, J. et al., 2014 [56] | Heavy/continuous smokers, late starters, occasional smokers, quitters/decreasers | Unemployment/ Employment |
Continuous and occasional smoker tend to become unemployed in later years. |
| USA, CLS, 2004–2005, 620, 17–19 | Arria, A. et al., 2013 [58] | Alcohol consumption, drug use (infrequent marijuana use, sporadic and persistent drug use) | Unemployment/ Employment |
Young adults with drug use over persistent time might have higher risk of unemployment after college. |
| USA, HRS, 1992–2008, 20,557, ≥50 | Deb, P. et al., 2012 [59] |
Daily number of drinks | Unemployment/ Employment |
People who show risky health patterns are particularly vulnerable for high rates of daily number of drinks in unemployment. |
| USA, n.a., n.a., 110, n.a. | Weber, E. et al., 2012 [44] | MA use characteristics (age of first use, total duration and quantity of use, last use, injection use) Non-MA dependence (cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, other substances) |
Unemployment/ Employment |
Neurocognitive deficits by methamphetamine use are associated with higher rates of unemployment. |
DNHS: Danish National Health Survey, EDADES: Spanish Household Survey on Alcohol and Drugs in Spain, SUNRISE: Integrated Support of Unemployed at Risk of Substance Abuse Disorder, NESARC: National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, FTDO: First Time Drug Offender Program, SF: Statistics Finland, CLS: College Life Study, HRS: Health and Retirement Survey.