The toll that the opioid epidemic has taken on the United States is undeniable. On average, 115 Americans die every day from a drug overdose involving an opioid, and even more suffer the debilitating effects of addiction. Despite state and federal efforts to curb the crisis, there is no sign that the epidemic is letting up. Whichever way the data is sliced, things look bad and are getting worse.
A Closer Look at How the Opioid Epidemic Affects Employment
Untangling causality is key to understanding the effects of the crisis.
August 20, 2018
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Summary.
On average, 115 Americans die every day from a drug overdose involving an opioid. Amid this national crisis, one narrative suggests that addiction leads to job loss and lower labor force participation. And yet another suggests the opposite. So what’s the actual connection between prescription opioids and the labor market? Research shows that, for the most part, there is no simple causal relationship between opioids and employment. The solution to the problem, then, lies in examining the epidemic’s other root causes: a combination of newly available opioids, new attitudes about the importance of pain management, loose prescribing practices, and a lack of professional accountability from both pharmaceutical company executives and doctors.