[20181210]IF11041_阿片类药物流行与美国劳动力市场.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov December 10, 2018The Opioid Epidemic and the U.S. Labor MarketSome Members of Congress have expressed strong concerns about the societal costs of the opioid epidemic, including its potential to adversely affect the U.S. economy. Efforts to quantify the annual economic costs of opioid abuse and dependence produce estimates in the tens of billions of dollars, of which workforce lossesdecreased productivity, missed days of work, and premature deathaccount for a substantial share. Opioid abuse could further generate labor force costsdirectly or indirectlyif it affects labor force participation decisions and unemployment. A small body of research has explored correlations between opioid abuse and these indicators, but it remains unclear whether the opioid epidemic is a driver or an outcome of recent workforce trends or an indicator of other underlying factors. The discussion that follows looks at studies that have examined the relationship between recent labor market patterns and opioid misuse (i.e., illicit opioid use and misuse of prescription drugs, meaning use in any way other than as prescribed). It is important to bear in mind, however, that some op