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Description
The project was developed to meet the needs of addicts treated in support programmes to boost their resources to find and start a job. Addicts are a group that is often ignored by institutions and that despite their treatment cannot reintegrate adequately in the social and economic life. They are young adults (aged 28-55) who are not engaged in a socially acceptable activity and challenged in their professional development. The project will enable 80 addicts treated in a support programme to put in effort and acquire self-confidence, knowledge and skills to find a job. The project will offer: 1. a survey among 80 addicts, employers and labour offices about work habits, employment and attitudes to employment of addicts. The findings of the survey will help support employment of the group. 2. Empowerment of addicted clients to enter the labour market. They will be provided with discussions, training sessions and flyers on topics related to employment in order to boost their capacity to find a new job. 3. Working meetings to support addicts to find a job. Addicts will take part in putting forward proposals and will have the opportunity to communicate with employers and institutions in order to be empowered to take part in the social and economic life. The project invests in the skills and resources of young people of active working age to join actively the social and economic life and be part of the public.
Summary of project results
"Back to Work" was created to address the needs of individuals undergoing treatment in maintenance programs for substance dependence, helping them enhance their resources for finding and starting employment.
Substance users are often a neglected group by institutions, and despite their efforts to undergo treatment, they struggle with adequate resocialization into social and economic life. They are young to middle-aged adults (28–55 years old) who are not engaged in socially accepted activities and face significant challenges in securing employment and reintegration.
The project was developed and implemented in Burgas , Bulgaria, in the context of harm reduction for drug use, aiming to support the treatment needs of drug users on methadone by facilitating their economic and social integration and assisting them in finding and starting a job.
Drug users are often neglected by institutions, and despite undergoing treatment, they struggle to reintegrate adequately into social and economic life. Typically, they are adults aged 28–55, most of whom are not engaged in socially accepted activities and face significant challenges in achieving self-fulfillment.
The project provided 80 drug users undergoing methadone treatment with an opportunity to make efforts toward employment, gain self-esteem, and acquire knowledge and skills necessary to find a job.
The project included:
A study conducted among 80 methadone-treated drug users, 10 employers, 2 representatives of the Labor Office, and 4 representatives of methadone treatment programs, analyzing work habits, employment opportunities, and the work attitudes of drug users. The findings were compiled into a report, which served as a valuable resource for working with the target group.
Empowerment activities to facilitate labor market participation, including discussions and training sessions. Informational flyers were distributed to more than 50 people, covering employment-related topics.
Work meetings to support drug users in finding employment. Participants were involved in developing proposals, engaging in direct communication with employers and institutions, and actively taking part in social and economic life.
Through discussions and consultations on the challenges of finding and starting employment for people with addiction, several key conclusions were reached to ensure the sustainability of project results and guide future necessary initiatives:
For adequate economic and social integration, the following are essential:
- Structural measures – linking the employment of individuals with addiction to incentives for employers;
- Easy access to health and social support services for drug users;
- Cooperation and networking among all stakeholders involved in the social and economic integration of drug users;
- Adequate financial and logistical support from local and national authorities.
Sustainable work programs aimed at empowering drug users and harm reduction, both nationally and internationally, have been shown to enhance their social and economic integration.