We examine how the availability of prescription opioids affects labor market activity and household economic well-being. While greater access to opioids may lead people to substance use disorders and negative economic consequences, appropriate pain medication may allow some individuals to...

The original version of this paper was presented at the conference on the International Social Security Project (Phase VI) organized by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) in Lisbon, Portugal, on May 28-29, 2010. We are grateful for the useful comments from participants at the...