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Does decriminalization cause more drug overdose deaths? Evidence from Oregon Measure 110

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  • Noah Spencer

Abstract

This paper evaluates the causal effect of drug decriminalization on drug overdose deaths in a context where decriminalization was not accompanied by substantial public health investments. Using the synthetic control method, I find that when Oregon decriminalized small amounts of drugs in February 2021, it caused 181 additional drug overdose deaths during the remainder of 2021. This represents a 23% increase over the number of drug overdose deaths predicted if Oregon had not decriminalized drugs. My estimates suggest that decriminalization had similar effects on drug overdose deaths among men and women and among white and non-white people.

Suggested Citation

  • Noah Spencer, 2022. "Does decriminalization cause more drug overdose deaths? Evidence from Oregon Measure 110," Working Papers tecipa-745, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:tor:tecipa:tecipa-745
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Christian Gunadi & Yuyan Shi, 2025. "Drug Decriminalization and Fatal Traffic Crashes: Evidence From BM110 in Oregon," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(5), pages 815-820, May.

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    JEL classification:

    • D04 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Policy: Formulation; Implementation; Evaluation
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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