Recreational cannabis legalization and opioid-related deaths in Colorado, 2000-2015

M.D. Livingston, T.E. Barnett, C. Delcher and A.C. Wagenaar

American Journal of Public Health, 2017, vol. 107, issue 11, 1827-1829

Abstract: Objectives.To examine the association between Colorado's legalization of recreational cannabis use and opioid-related deaths. Methods.Weused an interrupted time-series design (2000-2015) to compare changes in level and slope of monthly opioid-related deaths before and after Colorado stores began selling recreational cannabis.We also describe the percent change in opioid-related deaths by comparing the unadjusted model-smoothed number of deaths at the end of follow-up with the number of deaths just prior to legalization. Results. Colorado's legalization of recreational cannabis sales and use resulted in a 0.7 deaths per month (b = -0.68; 95% confidence interval = -1.34, -0.03) reduction in opioid-related deaths. This reduction represents a reversal of the upward trend in opioid-related deaths in Colorado. Conclusions. Legalization of cannabis in Colorado was associated with short-term reductions in opioid-related deaths. As additional data become available, research should replicate these analyses in other states with legal recreational cannabis.

Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2017.304059_1

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304059

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