RESEARCH STUDIES SHOW THAT ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY, ABSENTEEISM, AND OVERALL PERFORMANCE RATINGS OF EX-ADDICTS ARE NOT BELOW THOSE OF NONADDICTS. FURTHERMORE, HIRING OF EX-ADDICTS APPEAR TO INCREASE DRUG ABUSE WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION. YET ATTITUDE SURVEYS SHOW THAT EMPLOYERS TEND, INITIALLY, TO SHOW NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS EX-ADDICTS. IN ADDITION, MOST EX-ADDICTS SEEKING EMPLOYMENT DO NOT REVEAL THEIR BACKGROUNDS, CREATE PROBLEMS OF FICTIONAL IDENTITIES, AND OFTEN SUFFER ISOLATION FROM FELLOW EMPLOYEES. SINCE EMPLOYMENT AND REHABILITATION ARE CLOSELY RELATED, EFFECTIVE DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS REQUIRE COMMUNITY BUSINESS SUPPORT. THE TREATMENT PROGRAM PREPARES THE CLIENT FOR EMPLOYMENT AND RECREATIONAL EXPERIENCES; FOR TAKING INCREASING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR LIVES. THE COMMUNITY IN TURN MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCEPTING THE EX-ADDICT AND FOR MAKING JOBS AND RELATED RESOURCES AVAILABLE. EXAMPLES OF COMMUNITY-ASSISTED EX-ADDICT VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION INCLUDE WORK-SUPPORT PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE VERA INSTITUTE WILDCAT SERVICES PROJECT IN NEW YORK CITY; CORPORATION PILOT PROGRAMS FOR SMALL-SCALE HIRING; EX-ADDICT EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES; AND ORGANIZED DEVICES TO CREATE CARING NETWORKS OF FRIENDS. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)