The opioid debate: could reversing overdoses worsen the epidemic?

An economics working paper finds that access to Naloxone, a drug to reverse opioid overdoses, may increase opioid abuse. Sarah and Ezra explain the paper that started a social media firestorm — and what it means for combating the opioid epidemic.

References:

Doleac and Mukherjee working paper

A good summary of the debate from The Atlantic

Health Affairs blog post 

Working paper from Daniel Rees

People are dying because we misunderstand how those with addiction think

A lifesaving drug for overdoses doesn’t reduce opioid deaths? Be skeptical

Trump’s opioid crisis plan: more death penalty, fewer prescriptions, more treatment