Recreational marijuana laws and the misuse of prescription opioids: Evidence from National Survey on Drug Use and Health microdata

Several studies have concluded that legalizing medical marijuana can reduce deaths from opioid overdoses. Drawing on micro data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a survey uniquely suited to assessing patterns of substance use, we examine the relationship between recreational marijuana...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Health economics 2023-02, Vol.32 (2), p.277-301
Main Authors: Ali, Mir M., McClellan, Chandler, Mutter, Ryan, Rees, Daniel I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analgesics, Opioid
Drug abuse
health behaviors
Health economics
Humans
Legislation, Drug
Marijuana
Medical Marijuana
Narcotics
Opioid-Related Disorders - epidemiology
Opioids
Overdoses
Polls & surveys
Prescriptions
Recreation
recreational marijuana legalization
Substance abuse
United States - epidemiology
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Summary:Several studies have concluded that legalizing medical marijuana can reduce deaths from opioid overdoses. Drawing on micro data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a survey uniquely suited to assessing patterns of substance use, we examine the relationship between recreational marijuana laws (RMLs) and the misuse of prescription opioids. Using a standard difference‐in‐differences (DD) regression model, we find that RML adoption reduces the likelihood of frequently misusing prescription opioids such as OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin. However, using a two‐stage procedure designed to account for staggered treatment and dynamic effects, the DD estimate of relationship between RML adoption and the likelihood of frequently misusing prescription opioids becomes positive. Although event study estimates suggest that RML adoption leads to a decrease in the frequency of prescription opioid abuse, this effect appears to dissipate after only 2 or 3 years.
ISSN:1057-9230
1099-1050
DOI:10.1002/hec.4620