J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2026 Mar 13:209943. doi: 10.1016/j.josat.2026.209943. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
AIMS: To investigate changes in income, employment, and welfare utilization among individuals receiving addiction treatment in Greenland.
METHODS: We conducted a nationwide register based study using longitudinal data from the Allorfik treatment database linked with national socioeconomic registers. We included 1157 individuals aged 18-60 who had a recorded treatment episode between 2017 and 2021, retaining the first eligible episode per person. We examined annual income, employment status, and welfare utilization at four time points: the year before treatment cessation (Year -1), the year of cessation (Year 0), and the first two years after cessation (Years 1 and 2). We used generalized estimating equations to estimate changes in outcomes over time.
RESULTS: Increases in income (13.03% in Year 1, p < 0.008; 17.21% in Year 2, p = 0.005) and odds of employment (Year 1: OR = 1.20, p = 0.033; Year 2: OR = 1.25, p = 0.018) were observed after treatment cessation, along with decreases in odds of welfare utilization (Year 1: OR = 0.66, p ≤0.001; Year 2: OR = 0.57, p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: This first nationwide register-based study of addiction treatment in Greenland shows small yet consistent socioeconomic improvements following treatment. While causality cannot be inferred, the findings provide important descriptive evidence from an Indigenous Arctic population and highlight the need for future studies with comparison groups.
PMID:41833713 | DOI:10.1016/j.josat.2026.209943
Share Evidence Blueprint
Save to Google Notes
Search Google Scholar
Save as PDF
⭐ My Revision List
