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

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

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Livingston, M.D. & Barnett, T.E. & Delcher, C. & Wagenaar, A.C., 2017. "Recreational cannabis legalization and opioid-related deaths in Colorado, 2000-2015," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(11), pages 1827-1829.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2017.304059_1
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304059
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    Cited by:

    1. Marinello, Samantha & Powell, Lisa M., 2023. "The impact of recreational cannabis markets on motor vehicle accident, suicide, and opioid overdose fatalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    2. Meinhofer, Angélica & Witman, Allison E., 2018. "The role of health insurance on treatment for opioid use disorders: Evidence from the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 177-197.
    3. Coleman Drake & Jiebing Wen & Jesse Hinde & Hefei Wen, 2021. "Recreational cannabis laws and opioid‐related emergency department visit rates," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(10), pages 2595-2605, September.
    4. McMichael, Benjamin J. & Van Horn, R. Lawrence & Viscusi, W. Kip, 2020. "The impact of cannabis access laws on opioid prescribing," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    5. Alessandra Foresta & Andrew Pickering, 2023. "Impact of depenalization on drugs deaths in England and Wales. An instrumental variable approach," Discussion Papers 2023-03, Nottingham Interdisciplinary Centre for Economic and Political Research (NICEP).
    6. Jiebing Wen & Hefei Wen & J. S. Butler & Jeffery C. Talbert, 2021. "The impact of medical and recreational marijuana laws on opioid prescribing in employer‐sponsored health insurance," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 989-1000, May.

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