Funding Source: NIH (R21DA058849) – This study explores the intersection of the opioid epidemic and intimate partner violence (IPV), focusing on the impact of a key opioid-targeted intervention: the abuse-deterrent reformulation of OxyContin. While opioid misuse has long been linked to public health issues, little is known about its effects on violence within households.

Using administrative data and a quasi-experimental design, our research shows that the reformulation led to a significant decline in IPV incidents reported by female victims. The largest benefits were seen in regions most affected by prescription opioid misuse, with a 7.4% reduction in IPV rates among the most exposed counties. This decline represents substantial cost-savings, estimated at $53 billion annually.

However, in states with larger and more developed illicit drug markets, no such decline in IPV was observed. Instead, these areas experienced a notable increase in heroin-involved IPV. This highlights the need to identify high-risk populations and regions prone to substitution toward illicit opioids and to implement evidence-based policies to mitigate these unintended consequences.

Our study underscores the broader public health implications of opioid policies and their potential to improve women’s safety and well-being, while also cautioning against the risks posed by shifts toward illicit drug use.

Faculty: Pinar Keskin
Department: Economics
Funding Source: NIH (R21DA058849)