Valuing intangible costs of alcohol dependence: A contingent valuation study

Alcohol dependence has multiple psychosocial implications which substantially reduce the quality of life of those suffering from the disease and the quality of life of household members and relatives. These intangible costs have however received much less attention than the direct and indirect alcohol-related mortality and morbidity costs and literature provides almost no estimate of their magnitude in money terms. This article aims at valuing the quality of life costs of alcohol dependence in Switzerland using a contingent valuation survey. The annual cost per case is estimated at CHIF 5,400 when considering the suffering of the patient and his/her relatives. The annual cost for the country amounts to CHF 1.6 billion.