Treating alcoholism reduces financial burden on care-givers and increases quality-adjusted life years.

Aims: The study assessed the alcoholism-related financial burden borne by informal care-givers and relatives of German alcoholic patients.

Design: By using an exploratory approach, care-giver burden was assessed both prior to and 12 months after detoxification and withdrawal. Quality-of-life data for care-givers collected during follow-up were used to calculate the number of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained by alcoholics' family members while their relatives are undergoing treatment.