A Path Out: Prescription Drug Abuse, Treatment, and Suicide

58 Pages Posted: 2 Apr 2018 Last revised: 13 Sep 2022

See all articles by Mark Borgschulte

Mark Borgschulte

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Department of Economics

Adriana Corredor-Waldron

Princeton University - School of Public and International Affairs

Guillermo Marshall

University of British Columbia (UBC) - Sauder School of Business

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Abstract

In this paper we investigate the dual role of supply restrictions and drug treatment in combating the concurrent rise of opioid abuse and suicide in the United States over the last two decades. We find that supply-side interventions decrease suicides in places with strong addiction-help networks, implying that prescription drug abuse is associated with an inherent risk of suicide. Our findings support an important role for access to treatment services in policies designed to combat the opioid epidemic.

Keywords: prescription drugs, drug abuse, drug addiction treatment, PDMP, suicide

JEL Classification: I12, I18, D11, D12

Suggested Citation

Borgschulte, Mark and Corredor-Waldron, Adriana and Marshall, Guillermo, A Path Out: Prescription Drug Abuse, Treatment, and Suicide. IZA Discussion Paper No. 11391, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3153355

Mark Borgschulte (Contact Author)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Department of Economics ( email )

601 E John St
Champaign, IL Champaign 61820
United States

Adriana Corredor-Waldron

Princeton University - School of Public and International Affairs ( email )

Guillermo Marshall

University of British Columbia (UBC) - Sauder School of Business ( email )

2053 Main Mall
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2
Canada

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