What Is Driving the Drug Overdose Epidemic in the United States?
| Autor: | Taylor Harris Braswell, Dennis L. Thombs, Ryan P. Thombs, Andrew K. Jorgenson |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Social Psychology
Population health Drug overdose 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Economic inequality medicine College education Economics Humans 030212 general & internal medicine Opioid Epidemic Epidemics 030505 public health Perspective (graphical) Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health medicine.disease United States Educational attainment Analgesics Opioid Socioeconomic Factors Prescription opioid Income Educational Status Demographic economics Drug Overdose 0305 other medical science Random intercept |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 61:275-289 |
| ISSN: | 2150-6000 0022-1465 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/0022146520939514 |
| Popis: | The demand-side perspective argues that the drug overdose epidemic is a consequence of changes in the economy that leave behind working-class people who lack a college education. In contrast, the supply-side perspective maintains that the epidemic is primarily due to changes in the licit and illicit drug environment, whereas a third, distinct perspective argues that income inequality is likely a key driver of the epidemic. To evaluate these competing perspectives, we use a two-level random intercept model and U.S. state-level data from 2006 to 2017. Contrary to the demand-side approach, we find that educational attainment is not associated with drug-related mortality. In support of the supply-side approach, we provide evidence indicating that opioid prescription rates are positively associated with drug-related mortality. We also find that income inequality is a key driver of the epidemic, particularly the lack of resources going to the bottom 20% of earners. We conclude by arguing that considerations of income inequality are an important way to link the arguments made by the demand-side and the supply-side perspectives. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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