The Opioid Epidemic and Homicide in the United States

Objectives: Evaluate the relationship between the opioid epidemic and homicide rates in the United States. Methods: A county-level cross-sectional analysis covering the period 1999 to 2015. The race-specific homicide rate and the race-specific opioid-related overdose death rate are regressed on demographic, social, and economic covariates. Results: The race-specific opioid-related overdose death rate is positively associated with race-specific homicide rates, net of controls. The results are generally robust across alternative samples and model specifications. Conclusions: We interpret the results as reflecting the violent dynamics of street drug markets, although more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions about the mechanisms linking opioid demand and homicide.

Automated summary

The study found that the opioid-related overdose death rate is positively associated with homicide rates in the United States, indicating a link between violent dynamics of street drug markets and substance abuse. However, further research is needed to understand the mechanisms connecting opioid demand and homicide.