Opioids Prescribing Restrictions and Homelessness: Evidence from Hydrocodone Rescheduling

Do Federal Grants for Medication-Assisted Opioid Treatment Reduce Homelessness?

“…The opioid epidemic has brought about a multitude of negative social and community consequences, and housing insecurity is one of them: the epidemic both contributed to it and exacerbated it. A combination of poverty and lack of affordable housing typically drives homelessness, and evidence suggests that the opioid epidemic has worsened these determinants of homelessness, largely through negative effects on economic conditions and housing insecurity (Bradford and Bradford 2020; Langford 2021; Lozano-Rojas et al 2020).…”

“…These negative effects can create a negative feedback loop, where long-term economic decline increases OUD, which then furthers the decline. Results from Lozano-Rojas et al (2020) suggested these worsening conditions from OUD in the community likely spill over onto homelessness.…”

“…Several other studies suggested that the consequences of the opioid crisis intertwine with homelessness. The supply-side restriction of prescription opioids could be related to decreasing homelessness, possibly through alterations in poverty and the labor market (Lozano-Rojas et al 2020). Shifting controlled substance classification schedules of hydrocodone from III to II reduced its supply, as schedule II substances have more restrictions on their use; schedule II means higher abuse and addiction potential than schedule III substances (U.S. Department of Justice 2022).…”

“…In other words, OUD has severe, negative consequences for communities that increase homelessness. Policies and programs decreasing OUD in communities may then lessen these negative consequences and decrease homelessness (e.g., Lozano-Rojas et al 2020).…”

“…The increasing prevalence of OUD has spilled over to communities, exacerbating problems like poorer general health, unemployment, and child maltreatment (Chapman, this volume; Harris et al 2020; Langford 2021; Maclean et al, this volume). An additional consequence has been an increase of homelessness, partially through mechanisms like unemployment (Lozano-Rojas et al 2020).…”