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Must-access prescription drug monitoring programs and the opioid overdose epidemic: The unintended consequences

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  • Kim, Bokyung

Abstract

Although supply-side drug policies that limit access to legal opioids have reduced prescription opioid abuse, growing evidence shows that these policies have had the unintended consequence of increasing use of illegal opioids, including heroin. I add to this literature by studying the consequences of must-access prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), which legally require providers to access a state-level database with a patient's prescription history before prescribing controlled substances under certain circumstances. Using a difference-in-differences specification, I find strong evidence that must-access PDMPs have increased heroin death rates. My estimates indicate that two years after implementation, must-access PDMPs were associated with 0.9 more heroin deaths per 100,000 in a half-year period, relative to control states. My results suggest that even if must-access PDMPs reduce prescription opioid deaths, the decrease is offset by a large increase in illegal opioid deaths.

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  • Kim, Bokyung, 2021. "Must-access prescription drug monitoring programs and the opioid overdose epidemic: The unintended consequences," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:75:y:2021:i:c:s0167629620310547
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2020.102408
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    2. Lucas Marín Llanes & Hernando Zuleta, 2022. "Myths of drug consumption decriminalization: effects of Portuguese decriminalization on violent and drug use mortality," Documentos CEDE 20328, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
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    5. Abouk, Rahi & Powell, David, 2021. "Can electronic prescribing mandates reduce opioid-related overdoses?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    6. Shishir Shakya & Jane E. Ruseski, 2023. "The effect of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs on county‐level opioid prescribing practices and spillovers," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 41(3), pages 435-454, July.
    7. Kaestner, Robert & Ziedan, Engy, 2023. "Effects of prescription opioids on employment, earnings, marriage, disability and mortality: Evidence from state opioid control policies," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Johanna Catherine Maclean & Justine Mallatt & Christopher J. Ruhm & Kosali Simon, 2022. "The Opioid Crisis, Health, Healthcare, and Crime: A Review of Quasi-Experimental Economic Studies," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 703(1), pages 15-49, September.
    9. Denis Agniel & Jonathan H. Cantor & Johanna Catherine Maclean & Kosali I. Simon & Erin Taylor, 2023. "Insurance Coverage and Provision of Opioid Treatment: Evidence from Medicare," NBER Working Papers 31884, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    10. Buckles, Kasey & Evans, William N. & Lieber, Ethan M.J., 2023. "The drug crisis and the living arrangements of children," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    11. Shishir Shakya & Collin Hodges, 2023. "Must‐access prescription drug monitoring programs and retail opioid sales," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 41(1), pages 146-165, January.

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