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Origins of the Opioid Crisis Reexamined

Author

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  • Robert Kaestner

Abstract

In an article in the Quarterly Journal of Economics titled “Origins of the Opioid Crisis and Its Enduring Impacts,” Abby Alpert, William Evans, Ethan Lieber, and David Powell investigate the cause of the origins and persistence of the opioid crisis. Alpert, Evans, Lieber, and Powell suggest that “the introduction of OxyContin explains 79% of the rise in the overdose death rate since 1996.” In this article, I discuss several conceptual and empirical problems with the article that render the evidence in it largely uninformative about the role of OxyContin in the opioid epidemic. I believe that it is reasonable to think that the introduction and marketing of OxyContin accounts for some percentage of the increase in deaths from opioids, but only as part of the broad increase in all prescription opioids that occurred from 1991 to 2012.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Kaestner, 2023. "Origins of the Opioid Crisis Reexamined," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 20(1), pages 1-45–68, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:ejw:journl:v:20:y:2023:i:1:p:45-68
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anne Case & Angus Deaton, 2017. "Mortality and Morbidity in the 21st Century," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 48(1 (Spring), pages 397-476.
    2. Congressional Budget Office, 2022. "The Opioid Crisis and Recent Federal Policy Responses," Reports 58221, Congressional Budget Office.
    3. Anne Case & Angua Deaton, 2015. "Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century," Working Papers 15078.full.pdf, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Research Program in Development Studies..
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Opioids; mortality; clinical practice; marketing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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