A Guide for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors on Assisting Clients With Opioid Use Disorders Through Evidence-Based Coordination of Care and Employment Interventions

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and other Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) are a serious public and mental health epidemic that frequently impacts vocational rehabilitation consumers, including consumers who are veterans. In the present article, we review and synthesize the published literature on evidence-based interventions for individuals with OUD, with the primary aim of increasing vocational rehabilitation counselors’ understanding of and ability to provide or assist with the provision of evidence-based services for clients with OUD, particularly regarding employment interventions, including pharmacological, psychosocial, employment interventions. Clients with OUD/SUD often have complex and critical needs (housing, food, transportation, childcare, legal issues, etc.) that may pose barriers to both treatment engagement and sustained recovery, including employment. In order to promote sustained positive outcomes with clients with OUD, vocational rehabilitation counselors should address with comprehensive evidence-based coordination of care and employment strategies that identify jobs/career options with positive environmental support and vocational growth opportunities.