Addiction severity and re-employment in Sweden among adults with risky alcohol and drug use

Educational attainment and deaths of despair among individuals assessed for substance use severity: Findings from Swedish Addiction Severity Index (ASI) data

Aims: This study examined the association between educational attainment and the risk of deaths of despair among individuals assessed for substance use severity at municipal social services in Sweden. It aimed to determine whether the protective association between education and despair-related mortality risk, commonly observed in broader population studies, also applies to this high-risk, treatment-seeking population. Methods: We linked data from municipal Addiction Severity Index (ASI) assessments to various population registers. The study population included adults aged 25 years or older who were assessed for substance use severity between 1999 and 2019. Fine-Gray competing risk regression models were employed to examine the association between educational attainment and despair-related mortality, both overall and by subtype (alcohol-related, drug use-related, suicide). Results: Tertiary education was unexpectedly associated with increased risks of overall despair-related mortality, alcohol-related and drug use-related mortality, after controlling for demographic characteristics, ASI composite scores and substance use onset age. No significant associations were found between education and suicide. Conclusions: The counterintuitive finding that tertiary education is linked to a greater risk of despair-related mortality among social service users may be attributed to differences between the treatment-seeking population and the general population. Highly educated individuals who seek treatment from municipal social services might have severe substance use and complex psychosocial problems and/or contact social services after exhausting other treatment options. Further research is necessary to understand how educational and socioeconomic factors influence treatment pathways for individuals with severe substance use problems in Sweden and how these different pathways impact health-related outcomes.

Immigrant background, incarceration history and recidivism among adults assessed for illicit substance use severity: Findings from a Swedish registry study

BACKGROUND

In Sweden, as in other countries, individuals with immigrant backgrounds are disproportionately represented within the incarcerated population. This study examined the association between immigrant background and future incarceration for individuals assessed for illicit substance use severity, while considering their prior incarceration history.

METHODS

Using data from Swedish Addiction Severity Index (ASI) assessments linked to register data from Statistics Sweden, we employed Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) regression models to analyse differences in incarceration histories within five years before and after ASI assessments based on immigrant backgrounds. Additionally, Cox proportional-hazard models were used to assess the likelihood of post-assessment incarceration among these groups.

RESULTS

Immigrant background was positively associated with pre- and post-assessment incarceration. First- and second-generation immigrants from the Global South had longer periods of incarceration in the five years before assessments compared to native Swedes. Post-assessment, first-generation immigrants showed longer periods of incarceration. Survival analyses supported these findings, indicating a higher risk of prolonged post-assessment incarceration among all immigrant groups, particularly first-generation immigrants from the Global South.

CONCLUSION

Among individuals assessed for illicit drug use within Swedish municipalities, those with immigrant backgrounds faced higher incarceration risks, even after controlling for substance use severity and prior incarceration. Tailored interventions and support systems are vital to prevent re-entry into the criminal justice system. Timely actions can break re-offending cycles, redirecting paths away from reoffending and towards legal reintegration, thereby reducing incarceration and recidivism rates.