There are countless political, socioeconomic,
> etc. implications of that (it's true: addicts can easily qualify for
> disability!),
This used to be so - until Bill Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act(1996) better known as Welfare "Reform". Alcoholism/addiction is no longer a definition of disability i.e., one cannot collect SSI on that basis, one has to have other conditions to qualify or remain on disability benefits. And it is MUCH more difficult to get disability benefits in recent years.
Marta Russell