Both GSLs and NALs are viewed as important weapons in the fight against the opioid epidemic. They have received strong bipartisan support, and prominent groups such as the American Medical Association, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the American Public Health Association also support the adoption of GSLs and NALs. However, these laws have their critics. For instance, the governor of Maine, Paul LePage, recently vetoed naloxone access and Good Samaritan bills, arguing that they would encourage drug use and hamper law enforcement efforts.

Our research is the first to examine the effects of GSLs and NALs on opioid‐​related mortality. Drawing upon data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) multiple cause‐​of‐​death mortality files for the period 1999–2014, we estimate standard difference‐​in‐​difference models, which exploit within‐​state variation and control flexibly for common shocks caused by, for instance, the reformulation of OxyContin in 2010.

We find that the adoption of an NAL is associated with a 9 to 11 percent reduction in opioid‐​related deaths. The relationship between NALs and opioid‐​related deaths that do not involve heroin appears to be stronger than the relationship between NALs and heroin‐​related deaths. Moreover, our results suggest that removing criminal liability for possession of naloxone is an important feature of these laws. Removing criminal liability for possession of naloxone is associated with a 13 percent reduction in opioid‐​related deaths, while estimates of the effect of NALs without this provision are considerably smaller and statistically indistinguishable from zero. The estimated effects of GSLs on opioid‐​related deaths are consistently negative, but not statistically significant at conventional levels. We do, however, find stronger evidence that GSLs reduce opioid‐​related deaths involving alcohol. Finally, contrary to the claims made by some critics of NALs and GSLs, we find little evidence that these laws increase the recreational use of prescription painkillers.

NOTE:

This research brief is based on Daniel Rees, Joseph Sabia, Laura Argys, Joshua Latshaw, and Dhaval Dave, “With a Little Help from My Friends: The Effects of Naloxone Access and Good Samaritan Laws on Opioid‐​Related Deaths,” February 2017, http://​www​.nber​.org/​p​a​p​e​r​s​/​w​23171.