Abuse of Alcohol and Disability Pension

Abstract

Social reforms are often introduced solely on the basis of theoretical considerations without any empirical research. Thus, it is often an urgent matter to evaluate the real effects of a reform. In this investigation, the increased possibilities for abusers to obtain disability pensions that came into force in Sweden 1977-01-01 have been examined. A representative sample of 15 percent of all applications in the county of Östergötland in 1975 has been compared with a corresponding one in 1978. As expected, the number of abusers of alcohol among the applicants increased. The proportion of male abusers rose from 13.5 in 1975 to 22 percent in 1978. Despite a levelling off of differences in the civil status in 1978, the abusers were still in a substantially weaker social position than the other applicants. In contrast to the other applicants, no traces of increased efforts towards vocational rehabilitation can be noted among the abusers in 1978. This is quite remarkable since, according to the preceding official report, liberalization was not meant to replace meaningful efforts of rehabilitation. In 1978, the whole group of applicants were younger and they lived more frequently in large, densely populated areas. Furthermore, the number of women increased so that they were in a majority among the applicants in 1978. These changes probably reflect structural changes in society, especially in the labour market. This is the final report of an independent study in the research project “Abuse of alcohol — Disability pension — Quality of life”.