SUBSTANCE-ABUSE AND THE COURSE OF WELFARE DEPENDENCY

Objectives. New provisions in welfare reform target recipients with ad dictions, even though there is limited research on how substance abuse affects people's experiences on welfare. This prospective study exami ned substance abuse as a determinant subsequent welfare dependency. Me thods. Representative samples of clients on Aid to Families with Depen dent Children (AFDC) and general assistance in a California county wer e interviewed while applying for services in 1989 and were reinterview ed in 1995. Results. Among AFDC recipients, substance abuse was not a significant determinant of long welfare stays, repeat welfare use, or the total time a person remained on welfare during the 6-year period. However, substance abuse was a strong predictor of repeat welfare use among general assistance recipients. Conclusions. Alcohol and drug pro blems have played dramatically different roles in welfare dependency w ithin the AFDC and general assistance populations. Under welfare refor m, local general assistance programs will be the final safety net for recipients removed from federal entitlement programs. These programs w ill probably be confronted with clients with more complex disabilities related to addiction, as well as with greater family needs for cash a ssistance.