Economics research seminar: Christiern Rose, University of Queensland

We study the impact of peers on recovery from substance use disorders using linked administrative data on Norwegian inpatients. Peers are defined based on overlapping treatment episodes and a common geographic area of residence. Waiting lists provide a source of quasi-experimental variation in peer exposure.

We find that peers reduce all-cause and substance-induced mortality, reduce hospital admissions for substance-related disease, and have no discernible impact on admissions for substance-related poisoning. As highlighted by our theoretical framework, these findings are consistent with two mechanisms: peers supporting one another to abstain and, when use does occur, peers reducing harm by using together.

Presenter: Christiern Rose