The Downward Spiral: A Macroeconomic Analysis of the Opioid Crisis

Jeremy Greenwood, Nezih Guner and Karen Kopecky

No 17033, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: Abstract There have been more than 700,000 opioid overdose deaths since 2000. To analyze the opioid epidemic, a model is constructed where individuals choose whether to use opioids recreationally, knowing the probabilities of addiction and dying. These odds are functions of recreational opioid usage. The model is fit to estimated Markov chains from the US data that summarize the transitions into and out of opioid addiction as well as to a deadly overdose. The epidemic is broken down into two subperiods: 2000–2010 and 2010–2019. The opioid epidemic's drivers, their impact on employment, and the impact of medical interventions are examined. Lax prescribing practices and misinformation about the risk of addiction are important drivers of the first half of the epidemic. Falling prices for black-market opioids combined with an increase in their lethality are found to be important for the second half.

Keywords: Addiction; College/non-college educated; Deaths; Fentanyl; Markov chain; Medical interventions; Opioids; Oxycontin; Pain; Prices (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D11 D12 E13 I12 I14 I31 J11 J17 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-02
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Working Paper: The Downward Spiral: A Macroeconomic Analysis of the Opioid Crisis (2024)
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