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How the Reformulation of OxyContin Ignited the Heroin Epidemic

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  • William N. Evans
  • Ethan Lieber
  • Patrick Power

Abstract

We attribute the recent quadrupling of heroin death rates to the August, 2010 reformulation of an oft-abused prescription opioid, OxyContin. The new abuse-deterrent formulation led many consumers to substitute to an inexpensive alternative, heroin. Using structural break techniques and variation in substitution risk, we find that opioid consumption stops rising in August, 2010, heroin deaths begin climbing the following month, and growth in heroin deaths was greater in areas with greater pre-reformulation access to heroin and opioids. The reformulation did not generate a reduction in combined heroin and opioid mortality—each prevented opioid death was replaced with a heroin death.

Suggested Citation

  • William N. Evans & Ethan Lieber & Patrick Power, 2018. "How the Reformulation of OxyContin Ignited the Heroin Epidemic," NBER Working Papers 24475, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:24475
    Note: EH
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I1 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health
    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets

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