Employment training can play a crucial role in addiction recovery. Addiction is a holistic issue and it affects every part of a person’s life. That means that the treatment for addiction must also be holistic. Employment training in addiction recovery helps address the social and professional aspects of a person’s life to help them on a road to recovery. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the role of employment training in addiction recovery and how we implement this training in our programs at Isaiah House.
The importance of meaningful employment
Work is one of the most important things in our lives. In a recent worldwide poll conducted by Gallup, people from 160 countries revealed that one of the biggest global dreams is to have a good job.
Gallup CEO Jim Clifton says, “…over the past 100 years the great global dream has changed from wanting peace, freedom and family to simply wanting to have a good job.”
This new desire for meaningful employment is likely a result of our increasingly connected world. With a few clicks of a mouse or taps of a finger, people can compare their lives to others. For better or worse, this means that they can see what kind of careers other people have and the lifestyles that those careers may offer.
If meaningful employment is a high priority for humans around the globe, then it’s certainly important for individuals working toward addiction recovery. At Isaiah House, we believe in a holistic approach to addiction recovery that addresses the spiritual, physical, mental, financial, legal, and educational aspects of our clients’ lives. Employment training addresses many of these aspects.
Employment training teaches life skills
Recovering addicts often face challenges as they reintegrate back into normal life after long-term residential treatment for drug addiction. Employment training during addiction recovery can teach valuable life skills that make reintegration more successful.
Some of the life skills that employment training can teach include how to manage time, how to manage money, how to communicate effectively, and how to handle stress.
How to manage time
Drug addiction can often take over a person’s life to the point where addiction rules their time and energy. Job training helps people in recovery learn how to manage their time. The routine created by a regular work schedule can help provide the structure that is crucial to long-term recovery.
How to manage money
Money management is another important life skill that job skills training can teach. Addicts often have a difficult time managing money because they may have spent a lot of money on their addiction. Employment training helps teach essential budgeting skills. Having a regular paycheck makes it possible for recovering addicts to build financial literacy and plan for their futures.
How to communicate effectively
Communication is an important life skill that job skills training can teach. Addicts often have a difficult time communicating effectively because of the shame and stigma associated with addiction. Job training can help addicts learn how to communicate effectively as they work with a team to achieve goals. This skill is important in both personal and professional relationships.
How to handle stress
Stress management is another important life skill that employment training can teach. Addicts often have a difficult time managing stress because of the nature of addiction and substance abuse.
Job training offers a real-world opportunity to practice stress management techniques that are taught in addiction counseling. This practice can be hugely beneficial as stress management is an important part of achieving lasting recovery.
Addiction recovery is a process, and employment training can help equip people with the skills they need to live a successful life in sobriety.
Employment training increases independence
Acquiring valuable skills increases a person’s independence as they walk through recovery. These skills can be used to find meaningful employment that will help them get back in control of their life.
People struggling with addiction often lose their sense of control and agency to the substances that they struggle with. When they have meaningful work to do, it helps them feel a sense of control that they may have lost.
Additionally, living in a rehabilitation facility for a long time could cause these recovering addicts to start losing their sense of independence. Job training is a way to counteract this phenomenon by empowering these people.
Employment training helps decrease socio-economic stress
We know that addiction does not discriminate based on socio-economic status. Addiction can affect anyone, anywhere.
However, research does show that someone with a stable income is less likely to suffer from addiction than someone who doesn’t have a stable income. On top of that, the stress of unemployment can lead to substance abuse.
Employment training during addiction recovery equips people to find meaningful employment that will help alleviate socio-economic stress. Having the skills to get and keep a job can help eliminate a ton of potential stress for recovering addicts as they transition from a rehab facility back into normal life.
Job skills training at Isaiah House
At Isaiah House, job skills training is an integral part of our long-term recovery program. In fact, we guarantee the opportunity to full-time employment after 100 days to our clients who are in a long-term recovery program. Our clients receive soft skills training to help them become the best employees they can be.
We partner with a metal sales company and a property maintenance company to benefit multiple parties. Our clients in recovery benefit from meaningful employment and the community that these companies serve benefits from the products and services they offer.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction and needs can’t see a path back to a sober life, reach out to us today. We’d love walk with you through the journey to lifelong recovery.
