The socioeconomic, health, and family situation of parents of patients with substance use diagnosis: A descriptive registry study.

Abstract

The characteristics of parents of patients with substance use diagnoses (PPSUD) have received limited attention in public health. Previous studies, mainly based on convenience samples, report challenges in health, work, and family life. Using register data, this study provides a broad descriptive overview of their characteristics. Based on patient records from 2008 to 2018, we identified 111,075 PPSUD residing in Norway in 2018. A subgroup excluding parents with substance use diagnoses themselves (PPSUD_Excl; n = 98,507) was matched by age and gender to parents without substance use diagnoses from the general population (Comparison; n = 98,507). We compared proportions and means. Parents of patients with substance use diagnosis were more often divorced (PPSUD_Excl: 28.7 %; Comparison: 17.9 %; p-values <.001 for this and subsequent comparisons), less likely to work full-time (57.9 % vs. 68.5 %), and more likely to receive disability pension (23.4 % vs. 13.7 %) and have sickness absence (27.7 % vs. 20.8 %). General practitioner consultations were more common among PPSUD_Excl (82.5 %) than Comparison (80.7 %), especially for mental health (15.4 % vs. 10.7 %) and musculoskeletal issues (35.8 % vs. 33.0 %), but physiotherapy use was lower (16.6 % vs. 18.5 %). Hospital admission rates were higher for PPSUD_Excl (15.1 %) than Comparison (12.9 %). Parents of patients with substance use diagnosis face more challenges than other parents across life domains, including weaker labour market attachment, greater dependence on benefits, more mental health-related consultations, and higher overall healthcare use. Large discrepancies in disability pension and sickness absence, but modest in overall healthcare utilisation, suggest potential underutilisation of healthcare services.