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Addressing the Opioid Epidemic: Is There a Role for Physician Education?

Author

Listed:
  • Molly Schnell

    (Princeton University)

  • Janet Currie

    (Princeton University and NBER. Author email: jcurrie@princeton.edu)

Abstract

Using national data on opioid prescriptions written by physicians from 2006 to 2014, we uncover a striking relationship between opioid prescribing and medical school rank. Even within the same specialty and practice location, physicians who completed their initial training at top medical schools write significantly fewer opioid prescriptions annually than physicians from lower-ranked schools. Additional evidence suggests that some of this gradient represents a causal effect of education rather than patient selection across physicians or physician selection across medical schools. Altering physician education may therefore be a useful policy tool in fighting the current epidemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Molly Schnell & Janet Currie, 2018. "Addressing the Opioid Epidemic: Is There a Role for Physician Education?," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(3), pages 383-410, Summer.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:amjhec:v:4:y:2018:i:3:p:383-410
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    File URL: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1162/ajhe_a_00113
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    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets

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