Saved by Naloxone: The Path to Sobriety?
Abstract
Beginning in the early 2000s, lawmakers sought to mitigate harm and reduce mortality rates by enacting various policies and increasing community outreach, such as educating society about the dangers of opioids. These efforts can be divided into two broad categories: Drug use prevention and harm reduction. Research has been conducted on both of these strategies, utilizing retrospective analysis on outcomes including crime and mortality, among others. It is of great interest to understand which policies are most effective. NALs are an example of harm reduction because they reverse overdoses should they occur. Preemptive naloxone distribution reduces the likelihood of fatal overdoses. NALs may also lead to change in behavior by reducing addictive behavior. Investigating the effects of naloxone access laws (NALs) on drug treatment admissions remains largely understudied. In this study, I analyze the effects of NALs on drug treatment admissions. Mechanisms of action include emergency department (ED) personnel utilizing ED admissions as an opportunity to provide drug treatment resources, initiating referrals to treatment centers, and starting medication-assisted treatment while individuals are still in the ED. I find, on average, a statistically significant increase in the number of drug treatment admissions, holding gender and race constant. I also find that, on average, effects are most pronounced in white men, followed by non-white men and white women. In addition, I find that average treatment effects on the treated are greater for states that enacted NALs earlier in the period. Lastly, I identify a statistically significant increase in drug treatment admissions in the years after enactment compared to before enactment, holding gender and race constant.