title: Enrollment in supported employment services for clients with a co-occurring disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  People with serious mental illnesses and co-occurring substance use disorders are often excluded from vocational services, despite the lack of evidence that having a substance use disorder prevents them from being able to work. This study explored enrollment in supported employment services among clients with and without co-occurring substance use disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  With data from electronic medical records from a psychiatric rehabilitation agency, relationships between co-occurring substance use disorders and supported employment were examined among 1,748 clients with serious mental illnesses who were consecutively admitted to the agency over a two-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite a similar interest in employment, clients with a co-occurring substance use disorder were 52% less likely than those without to enroll in a supported employment program. Those who were enrolled had similar competitive employment rates (25% for those with co-occurring disorders and 28% for those without).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  People with co-occurring substance disorders have reduced rates of enrollment in supported employment services.
authors.affiliation: ThresholdsInstitute, Thresholds Psychiatric RehabilitationCenters, Chicago, IL 60613, USA. rfrounfelker@thresholds.org
authors.forename: Rochelle L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Frounfelker
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wilkniss
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Bond
authors.forename: Timothy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Devitt
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Drake
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002641:Chicago; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D016832:Employment, Supported; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation