From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus between Opioid Abuse and Violence

Suzan Odabaşı

From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus between Opioid Abuse and Violence

Abstract

This research analyzes the relationship between opioid prescription rates, and crime incidence in the United States. Utilizing data from 2012 to 2015 from 3142 counties, this study seeks to unravel the multifaceted impact of opioid prescription rate on crime rates. A notable endogeneity issue surfaces in the relationship between law enforcement personnel and crime. To mitigate this challenge, we introduce an instrumental variable, the "annual average police wage." Employing a fixed-effect approach, our findings reveal a compelling association—increasing the number of law enforcement personnel correlates with a reduction in the likelihood of robberies in urban counties. Furthermore, an upswing in the count of mental health providers is linked to a decrease in burglaries in urban areas. This analysis sheds light on the nuanced dynamics involving mental health, law enforcement, and criminal activity, offering valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners alike.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Applied Microeconometrics

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Suzan Odabaşı ^*
0000-0002-4646-8640
Türkiye

Publication Date

March 26, 2026

Submission Date

August 14, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 13, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA37PJ53JZ

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Odabaşı, S. (2026). From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus between Opioid Abuse and Violence. Journal of Research in Economics, 10(1), 1-18. https://izlik.org/JA37PJ53JZ

AMA

1.Odabaşı S. From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus between Opioid Abuse and Violence. JORE. 2026;10(1):1-18. https://izlik.org/JA37PJ53JZ

Chicago

Odabaşı, Suzan. 2026. “From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus Between Opioid Abuse and Violence”. Journal of Research in Economics 10 (1): 1-18. https://izlik.org/JA37PJ53JZ.

EndNote

Odabaşı S (March 1, 2026) From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus between Opioid Abuse and Violence. Journal of Research in Economics 10 1 1–18.

IEEE

[1]S. Odabaşı, “From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus between Opioid Abuse and Violence”, JORE, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 1–18, Mar. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA37PJ53JZ

ISNAD

Odabaşı, Suzan. “From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus Between Opioid Abuse and Violence”. Journal of Research in Economics 10/1 (March 1, 2026): 1-18. https://izlik.org/JA37PJ53JZ.

JAMA

1.Odabaşı S. From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus between Opioid Abuse and Violence. JORE. 2026;10:1–18.

MLA

Odabaşı, Suzan. “From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus Between Opioid Abuse and Violence”. Journal of Research in Economics, vol. 10, no. 1, Mar. 2026, pp. 1-18, https://izlik.org/JA37PJ53JZ.

Vancouver

1.Suzan Odabaşı. From Pain Relief to Painful Reality: Analyzing the Nexus between Opioid Abuse and Violence. JORE [Internet]. 2026 Mar. 1;10(1):1-18. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA37PJ53JZ