IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/jhouse/v66y2024ics1051137724000299.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Opioids prescribing restrictions and homelessness: Evidence from hydrocodone rescheduling

Author

Listed:
  • Olvera, Johabed G.
  • Lozano-Rojas, Felipe
  • Pastrana, Julio A. Ramos
  • Gupta, Sumedha

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of restricting opioid prescription on homelessness. We assess this relationship by exploiting plausible exogenous variation in prescribed opioid supply derived from an opioid restriction policy: the hydrocodone (i.e., Vicodin, not oxycodone products like Oxycontin) rescheduling. We identified the causal effect of this decrease in the supply of hydrocodone, the most prescribed opioid in the U.S. and comprising 55% of overall use opioid prescription dispensing, by comparing the number of homeless individuals in geographies with higher exposure to Hydrocodone against those in areas with lower exposure, before and after the enactment of the policy. We find that in the quarter following hydrocodone upscheduling, the rate of people experiencing homelessness decreased by almost 56 per 100,000 inhabitants (a 25.4% reduction relative to the pre-policy mean). In addition, results show that hydrocodone prescriptions, drug related deaths, unemployment, and divorce rates decrease following the upscheduling. Taken together, our results suggest that during our study period (2007–2017) the hydrocodone rescheduling reduced homelessness by preventing some household crises.

Suggested Citation

  • Olvera, Johabed G. & Lozano-Rojas, Felipe & Pastrana, Julio A. Ramos & Gupta, Sumedha, 2024. "Opioids prescribing restrictions and homelessness: Evidence from hydrocodone rescheduling," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhouse:v:66:y:2024:i:c:s1051137724000299
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhe.2024.102010
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1051137724000299
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jhe.2024.102010?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Glomm, Gerhard & John, Andrew, 2002. "Homelessness and labor markets," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 591-606, September.
    2. Park, Sujeong & Powell, David, 2021. "Is the rise in illicit opioids affecting labor supply and disability claiming rates?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    3. Weitzman, B.C. & Knickman, J.R. & Shinn, M., 1992. "Predictors of shelter use among low-income families: Psychiatric history, substance abuse, and victimization," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 82(11), pages 1547-1550.
    4. William N. Evans & Ethan M. J. Lieber & Patrick Power, 2019. "How the Reformulation of OxyContin Ignited the Heroin Epidemic," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 101(1), pages 1-15, March.
    5. Abby Alpert & David Powell & Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, 2018. "Supply-Side Drug Policy in the Presence of Substitutes: Evidence from the Introduction of Abuse-Deterrent Opioids," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 10(4), pages 1-35, November.
    6. William N. Evans & David C. Phillips & Krista Ruffini, 2021. "Policies To Reduce And Prevent Homelessness: What We Know And Gaps In The Research," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(3), pages 914-963, June.
    7. Duncan McVicar & Julie Moschion & Jan C. van Ours, 2019. "Early illicit drug use and the age of onset of homelessness," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 182(1), pages 345-372, January.
    8. Corinth, Kevin, 2017. "The impact of permanent supportive housing on homeless populations," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 69-84.
    9. Papke, Leslie E. & Wooldridge, Jeffrey M., 2008. "Panel data methods for fractional response variables with an application to test pass rates," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 145(1-2), pages 121-133, July.
    10. Shawn Moulton, 2013. "Does Increased Funding for Homeless Programs Reduce Chronic Homelessness?," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 79(3), pages 600-620, January.
    11. Gabriel Piña & Maureen Pirog, 2019. "The Impact of Homeless Prevention on Residential Instability: Evidence From the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program," Housing Policy Debate, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(4), pages 501-521, July.
    12. Gupta, Sumedha & Nguyen, Thuy & Freeman, Patricia R. & Simon, Kosali, 2023. "Competitive effects of federal and state opioid restrictions: Evidence from the controlled substance laws," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    13. Gambatese, M. & Marder, D. & Begier, E. & Gutkovich, A. & Mos, R. & Griffin, A. & Zimmerman, R. & Madsen, A., 2013. "Programmatic impact of 5 years of mortality surveillance of New York City homeless populations," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(S2), pages 193-198.
    14. Phinney, R. & Danziger, S. & Pollack, H.A. & Seefeldt, K., 2007. "Housing instability among current and former welfare recipients," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(5), pages 832-837.
    15. O'Flaherty, Brendan, 2004. "Wrong person and wrong place: for homelessness, the conjunction is what matters," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, March.
    16. Shawn Moulton, 2013. "Does Increased Funding for Homeless Programs Reduce Chronic Homelessness?," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 79(3), pages 600-620, January.
    17. David Cho & Alvaro Mezza & Joshua Montes, 2022. "Choices and Implications when Measuring the Local Supply of Prescription Opioids," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2022-078, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    18. Marah Curtis & Hope Corman & Kelly Noonan & Nancy Reichman, 2013. "Life Shocks and Homelessness," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 50(6), pages 2227-2253, December.
    19. Shawn Moulton, 2013. "Does Increased Funding for Homeless Programs Reduce Chronic Homelessness?," Southern Economic Journal, Southern Economic Association, vol. 79(3), pages 600-620, January.
    20. Ackerman, Adam & Porter, Ben & Sullivan, Ryan, 2020. "The effect of combat exposure on veteran homelessness," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    21. McVicar, Duncan & Moschion, Julie & van Ours, Jan C., 2015. "From substance use to homelessness or vice versa?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 136, pages 89-98.
    22. O'Flaherty, Brendan, 2019. "Homelessness research: A guide for economists (and friends)," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 1-25.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Moschion, Julie & van Ours, Jan C., 2022. "Do early episodes of depression and anxiety make homelessness more likely?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 654-674.
    2. O'Flaherty, Brendan, 2019. "Homelessness research: A guide for economists (and friends)," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 1-25.
    3. Bradford, Ashley C. & Fu, Wei & You, Shijun, 2024. "The devastating dance between opioid and housing crises: Evidence from OxyContin reformulation," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    4. Johanna Catherine Maclean & Justine Mallatt & Christopher J. Ruhm & Kosali Simon, 2022. "The Opioid Crisis, Health, Healthcare, and Crime: A Review of Quasi-Experimental Economic Studies," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 703(1), pages 15-49, September.
    5. Moschion, Julie & van Ours, Jan C., 2019. "Do childhood experiences of parental separation lead to homelessness?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 211-236.
    6. Bhashkar Mazumder, 2023. "The Effects of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs on Labor Market Activity and Credit Outcomes," Working Paper Series WP 2023-13, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
    7. Isabel Musse, 2025. "Employment shocks and demand for pain medication: Understanding the channels that drive opioid use," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(2), pages 316-344, February.
    8. Timothy M. Diette & David C. Ribar, 2018. "A Longitudinal Analysis Of Violence And Housing Insecurity," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 56(3), pages 1602-1621, July.
    9. Aliprantis, Dionissi & Fee, Kyle & Schweitzer, Mark E., 2023. "Opioids and the labor market," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    10. Zai, Xianhua, 2024. "Beyond the brink: Unraveling the opioid crisis and its profound impacts," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    11. Moschion, Julie & van Ours, Jan C., 2021. "Do transitions in and out of homelessness relate to mental health episodes? A longitudinal analysis in an extremely disadvantaged population," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    12. David Cho & Alvaro Mezza & Joshua Montes, 2022. "Choices and Implications when Measuring the Local Supply of Prescription Opioids," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2022-078, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    13. Agustina Laurito, 2024. "Spillovers of the Heroin Epidemic on Grandparent Caregiving," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 43(2), pages 1-25, April.
    14. Robert Bifulco & Iuliia Shybalkina, 2022. "Fiscal Impacts of the Opioid Crisis on State and Local Governments," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 703(1), pages 324-349, September.
    15. David Cho & Daniel I. García & Joshua Montes & Alison E. Weingarden, 2021. "Labor Market Effects of the Oxycodone-Heroin Epidemic," Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2021-025, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.).
    16. Louis‐Philippe Beland & Jason Huh & Dongwoo Kim, 2024. "The effect of opioid use on traffic fatalities," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(6), pages 1123-1132, June.
    17. Christopher J. Ruhm, 2019. "Shackling the Identification Police?," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 85(4), pages 1016-1026, April.
    18. Gihleb, Rania & Giuntella, Osea & Zhang, Ning, 2020. "Prescription drug monitoring programs and neonatal outcomes," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    19. David Powell & Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, 2021. "The Evolving Consequences of OxyContin Reformulation on Drug Overdoses," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 7(1), pages 41-67.
    20. Moschion, Julie & van Ours, Jan C., 2025. "Lifting Up the Lives of Extremely Disadvantaged Youth: The Role of Staying in School Longer," IZA Discussion Papers 17702, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:jhouse:v:66:y:2024:i:c:s1051137724000299. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/622881 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.