Substance use provider occupational wellbeing study: Identifying sources of stress and resilience among frontline substance use workers in Massachusetts

October 2020 – June 2021

The aims of this study include identifying challenging working conditions in residential addiction treatment facilities in Massachusetts from the perspectives of Substance Use Providers (SUPs) and organizational leaders, including how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated workplace challenges. In addition, the research seeks to ascertain how these identified challenges as well as supports affect SUP psychological and physical safety, health, and general well-being at work and at home, and determine how identified challenges and supports affect organizational dynamics and workforce turnover at the treatment facilities and SUPs’ intentions to leave the field of addiction services. This study also explores participant-generated suggestions to improve the work environment for SUPs.

Funding for this research is provided by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Education and Research Center.

To read more about this study, including research findings and recommendations, go to: https://centerforworkhealth.sph.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/SUP_wellbeing_study_report.pdf

Findings were published in the journal Social Science & Medicine and can be found here.