CHE Seminar - Do Peers Subvert or Support Recovery from Substance Use Disorder?

Event details

Abstract: Using administrative data from Norway, we study the impact of peers on recovery from substance use disorder after an episode of inpatient treatment. Peers overlap in residential treatment and then return to the same county of residence, hence may plausibly maintain ties afterwards. A waiting list ensures that exposure to peers during treatment is conditionally exogenous. We find that peers reduce mortality risk, particularly when both the individual and their peers have a drug use disorder. Supplementary analysis of hospital admissions for overdose shows that the mechanism is not solely through safer joint consumption. We conclude that peers support recovery.


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Christiern Rose

Christiern Rose's bio