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The Effects of Naloxone Access Laws on Opioid Abuse, Mortality, and Crime

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  • Jennifer L. Doleac
  • Anita Mukherjee

Abstract

The United States is experiencing an epidemic of opioid abuse. In response, states have implemented policies including increased access to naloxone, a drug that can save lives when administered during an overdose. There is a concern that widespread naloxone access may unintentionally lead to increased or riskier opioid use by reducing the risk of death from overdose, however. In this paper, we use the staggered timing of state-level naloxone access laws as a natural experiment to measure the effects of broadening access to this lifesaving drug. We find that broadened access led to more opioid-related emergency room visits and more opioid-related theft, with no net measurable reduction in opioid-related mortality. We conclude that naloxone has a clear and important role in harm reduction, yet its ability to combat the opioid epidemic’s death toll may be limited without complementary efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer L. Doleac & Anita Mukherjee, 2022. "The Effects of Naloxone Access Laws on Opioid Abuse, Mortality, and Crime," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65(2), pages 211-238.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jlawec:doi:10.1086/719588
    DOI: 10.1086/719588
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    Cited by:

    1. Zachary Porreca, 2024. "Identifying the General Equilibrium Effects of Narcotics Enforcement," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 24227, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    2. 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).
    3. William N. Dowd, 2023. "The effect of untargeted naloxone distribution on opioid overdose outcomes," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(12), pages 2801-2818, December.
    4. Jha, Chandan Kumar & Joshi, Swarup, 2023. "Municipal bankruptcies and crime," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    5. Johanna Catherine Maclean & Ioana Popovici & Christopher J. Ruhm, 2023. "Does Paid Sick Leave Facilitate Reproductive Choice?," NBER Working Papers 31801, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Smart, Rosanna & Powell, David & Pacula, Rosalie Liccardo & Peet, Evan & Abouk, Rahi & Davis, Corey S., 2024. "Investigating the complexity of naloxone distribution: Which policies matter for pharmacies and potential recipients," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    7. Evan D. Peet & David Powell & Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, 2024. "Using Policy and Innovation to Improve Life-Saving Access to Naloxone," NBER Working Papers 33105, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Liang, Jian & Alexeev, Sergey, 2023. "Harm reduction or amplification? The adverse impact of a supervised injection room on housing prices," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).

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