The Economic Effect of Peer Recovery Support Services: A Review of the Literature

• Published in: Community mental health journal Vol. 60; no. 4; pp. 826 - 831
• Main Authors: Randall, Maxwell G., Horn, Brady P., Crisanti, Annette S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.05.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Brief Report; Clinical outcomes; Community and Environmental Psychology; Cost control; Drug overdose; Drug use; Economic analysis; Economic impact; Economic recovery; Grey literature; Health Care Costs; Health care expenditures; Health services; Health services utilization; Humans; Literature reviews; Medicaid; Medical screening; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental health; Peer Group; Peer tutoring; Peers; Psychiatry; Support services; Substance use; Peer support; Cost analysis; Mental health
• ISSN: 0010-3853; 1573-2789; 1573-2789
• DOI: 10.1007/s10597-023-01212-z

Peer Recovery Support Services (PRSS) have the potential to be an economically valuable intervention. To investigate this potential, we conducted a scoping review to summarize existing research on the economic impact of PRSS. We searched relevant electronic databases for peer-reviewed articles and grey literature between January 2000 and February 2023 that examined an economic outcome related to PRSS. Following a comprehensive search, screening, and full-text evaluation, eight articles were selected for review. The majority of the studies we identified focused on healthcare cost-avoidance. Some studies supported PRSS as a method of avoiding costly medical services, while others had mixed results. Our scoping review revealed limited studies addressing cost savings associated with PRSS and further research on the economic impact of PRSS is warranted.