Choices and Implications when Measuring the Local Supply of Prescription Opioids

David Cho, Alvaro Mezza and Joshua Montes
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Alvaro Mezza: https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/alvaro-mezza.htm
Joshua Montes: https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/joshua-k-montes.htm

No 2022-078, Finance and Economics Discussion Series from Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.)

Abstract: Despite the growth in the literature on the opioid crisis, questions remain on how to best measure the local supply of prescription opioids. We document that measures based on the number of prescriptions largely track hydrocodone, while measures based on morphine-equivalent amounts largely track oxycodone. This choice matters, given the well-documented link between oxycodone and the rise in use of illicit opioids such as heroin, plus the fact that oxycodone and hydrocodone (the two most common prescription opioids) are only weakly correlated. We recommend local measures of the supply of opioids should take into account morphine-equivalent amounts, to avoid understating the health and economic consequences of opioid abuse.

Keywords: Opioid crisis; Labor force; Manufacturing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I18 J21 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 29 p.
Date: 2022-11-22
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:fip:fedgfe:2022-78

DOI: 10.17016/FEDS.2022.078

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