Substance abuse and dependence impacts employment and financial stability. The State of North Carolina (NC), Department of Health and Human Services and Research Triangle Institute worked closely to focus on this issue with persons receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Work First in NC. The goals of the study were to measure the prevalence of use of alcohol and other drugs; prevalence of dependence on alcohol and other drugs; need for drug abuse treatment services; and to determine barriers to treatment for Work First recipients. Interviews were conducted with 408 Work First recipients, of which 71% reported having been on welfare before this episode. This data was then compared to the 1995 NC Household Survey of adult drug use revealing several significant differences. For example, the survey indicated that marijuana use is substantially higher for TANF recipients than for the general public, and that heavy alcohol use was most prevalent for middle-aged adults (ages 25-44), twice the prevalence rate of younger adults (ages 18-24). Overall, the prevalence of illicit drug use for the TANF sample is over twice the prevalence of NC adults. Substance abuse may be the greatest barrier that welfare recipients must overcome to enter and remain in the workforce. This paper discusses the prevalence of this problem in North Carolina and facilitates discussions about need for treatment and current barriers to such treatment.
Learning Objectives: Participants will begin to understand the nature and extent of the substance abuse problem among North Carolina TANF recipients and gain insight into how these issues can address treatment needs.
Keywords: Welfare, Substance Abuse
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.