Abstract
Even though the Finnish and Swedish alcohol cultures and societies are very similar, Finns have a reputation for drinking more heavily than Swedes. Earlier research in Sweden has shown that Finnish immigrants in Sweden experience more health problems and more alcohol related deaths than Swedes. Research results concerning their treatment consumption have been contradictory.
Based on interviews with 942 persons entering the health-based addiction treatment system in Stockholm county between November 2000 and November 2001, this article sets out to study to what extent the patients that were born in Finland (N = 82) differ from those born in Sweden (N = 771). It also examines to what extent the Finnish-born differ from Swedes if you control for work position as a sign of social status, and main drug use (alcohol or illegal drugs).
The data consists of structured interviews, conducted by trained interviewers in the research project. The results are presented as distributions and correlations tested with Pearson Chi2. In order to be able to say to what extent the problems of the Finnish born were related to their particular immigrant position compared to social status, a weighted sample of Swedes was constructed, using the variables “most common or last work position” and “main drug as reason for coming to treatment (alcohol or illicit drugs)”.
The results showed that the Finnish born patients were overrepresented in treatment. This could largely, but not fully, be explained by their social position and age structure.
The Finnish-born were a much more homogeneous group than the Swedes as they were mostly male and workers, and predominantly treated for their alcohol problems. They had a more problematic housing situation than comparable Swedes. Their alcohol consumption was somewhat higher than among comparable Swedish patients, and they had experienced some more symptoms of dependency and negative consequences of drinking, particularly those associated with health issues. They had more treatment experiences during the year before this treatment round, but not more days in treatment. Their attitudes to drinking and drug problems, and to treatment in general, as far as attitudes and expectations were concerned, seemed rather positive and very similar to the Swedish patients, however.
The fact that they received a lot of treatment but shorter treatment contacts than comparable Swedes might indicate that the Swedish system has not been able to meet their needs particularly well.