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. 2017 Nov;107(11):1827-1829.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2017.304059.

Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Opioid-Related Deaths in Colorado, 2000-2015

Melvin D Livingston  1 , Tracey E Barnett  1 , Chris Delcher  1 , Alexander C Wagenaar  1
Affiliations

Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Opioid-Related Deaths in Colorado, 2000-2015

Melvin D Livingston et al. Am J Public Health. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the association between Colorado's legalization of recreational cannabis use and opioid-related deaths.

Methods: We used an interrupted time-series design (2000-2015) to compare changes in level and slope of monthly opioid-related deaths before and after Colorado stores began selling recreational cannabis. We also describe the percent change in opioid-related deaths by comparing the unadjusted model-smoothed number of deaths at the end of follow-up with the number of deaths just prior to legalization.

Results: Colorado's legalization of recreational cannabis sales and use resulted in a 0.7 deaths per month (b = -0.68; 95% confidence interval = -1.34, -0.03) reduction in opioid-related deaths. This reduction represents a reversal of the upward trend in opioid-related deaths in Colorado.

Conclusions: Legalization of cannabis in Colorado was associated with short-term reductions in opioid-related deaths. As additional data become available, research should replicate these analyses in other states with legal recreational cannabis.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Changes in Monthly Opioid-Related Deaths Following Recreational Cannabis Legalization in Colorado, 2000–2015 Note. Change in opioid-related deaths per month following legalization = −0.68 (95% confidence interval = −1.34, −0.03; P = .043). Change in model-estimated opioid-related deaths was robust to covariate control of opioid-related deaths in all comparison states. Change in model-estimated opioid-related deaths was robust to whether the prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) covariate was modeled at the beginning of implementation or at full implementation of the 2014 PDMP change.
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