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.
thepirateboy on October 16th, 2017 at 22:50 UTC »
would love to see a study determining whether legalizing cannabis is also associated with reduced suicide rates
Pour_Louis on October 16th, 2017 at 22:31 UTC »
I wonder what they DUI Accident and Death stats are? Up, down, or sideways (same but different cause). All the research I've seen would say there would be fewer accidents if people swapped drinking responsibly for smoking responsible.
Yes, driving wasted is always bad news.
marsyred on October 16th, 2017 at 17:52 UTC »
Sorry for the paywall -- here is a screenshot of the central figure.