Prescription drug monitoring programs, opioid abuse, and crime

We study the effects of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) on crime, and inform how policies that restrict access to Rx opioids per se within healthcare system would impact broader non-health domains. In response substantial increase in opioid use misuse United States, PDMPs have been implemented virtually all states collect, monitor, analyze data with goal preventing its diversion. Using a differences-in-differences approach offenses known law enforcement from Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), we find mandatory reduced overall crime by 5%, particularly driven assault, burglary motor vehicle theft. Overall, these results provide evidence appropriately designed are an effective social policy tool mitigate some negative consequences misuse, more broadly indicate can important spillover into crime.