Economic conditions, illicit drug use, and substance use disorders in the United States

We provide the first analysis of the relationship between economic conditions and the use of illicit drugs other than marijuana. Drawing on US data from 2002 to 2015, we find mixed evidence on the cyclicality of illicit drug use. However, we find robust evidence that economic downturns lead to increases in the intensity of prescription pain reliever use as well as increases in clinically relevant substance use disorders involving opioids. These effects are concentrated among working-age white males with low educational attainment. We conclude that policymakers should consider devoting more, not fewer, resources to treating substance use disorders during economic downturns. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.

drug use economic conditions substance use disorders alcohol analgesic agent cannabis diamorphine illicit drug psychedelic agent drug drug user economic conditions health policy policy making adolescent adult age aged alcoholism article child disease severity drug dependence economic aspect economic recession educational status employment status female human male marriage race difference sex difference unemployment united states drug dependence economic recession economics middle aged opiate addiction prescription drug misuse sex factor socioeconomics statistics and numerical data young adult united states cannabis sativa adolescent adult age factors aged child economic recession educational status female humans male middle aged opioid-related disorders prescription drug misuse sex factors socioeconomic factors substance-related disorders united states young adult

Economic conditions, illicit drug use, and substance use disorders in the United States Articles