The Review of Economics and Statistics 2025
Opioid Use and Employment Outcomes: Evidence from the U.S. Military
Abstract
There is significant interest in understanding labor market consequences of the opioid epidemic, but little is known about how opioid use affects on-the-job performance. We analyze the impact of opioid initiation on job performance using linked medical and personnel data for active-duty military members. Exploiting quasi-random assignment of patients to physicians in the emergency department, we find that military members assigned to high-intensity opioid prescribing physicians have a higher likelihood of long-term opioid use, are less likely to receive promotions, and are more likely to receive disciplinary actions and leave their jobs. Our results demonstrate productivity costs of opioid use.
- DOI
- 10.1162/rest.a.284
- Pages
- 1-45
- Language
- en
- Sources
- openalex crossref