The Economic Consequences of Opioid Addiction in America
The Economic Consequences of Opioid Addiction in America
The Economic Consequences of Opioid Addiction in America
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VII. <strong>Consequences</strong> to Taxpayers<br />
States Look<strong>in</strong>g to Tax <strong>Opioid</strong> Distributions<br />
By David Brunori on March 14, 2018<br />
Posted <strong>in</strong> Drug Policy, Legislation, State Law<br />
As the national discussion on opioid abuse cont<strong>in</strong>ues, state governments are look<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
their tax laws as a way <strong>of</strong> “address<strong>in</strong>g” the issue. <strong>The</strong> Kentucky House recently<br />
approved a 25 cent per pill tax for every dose sent <strong>in</strong>to the state. <strong>The</strong> measure now<br />
moves to the Kentucky Senate. <strong>The</strong> state expects to raise $70 million a year from the<br />
tax. Kentucky does not, however, <strong>in</strong>tend to use the funds for opioid addiction treatment,<br />
but plans to use the tax revenue for unrelated budget needs.<br />
At least 13 other states have pend<strong>in</strong>g legislation to impose taxes on opioids. <strong>The</strong><br />
proposals vary <strong>in</strong> type and severity. Legislators <strong>in</strong> Oklahoma for example are propos<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a 10 percent tax on the first sales <strong>of</strong> opioids <strong>in</strong>to the state. M<strong>in</strong>nesota is consider<strong>in</strong>g a<br />
one cent per milligram tax on each dose distributed <strong>in</strong>to the state. <strong>The</strong> other states<br />
consider<strong>in</strong>g opioid taxes are Alaska, California, Delaware, Iowa, Ma<strong>in</strong>e, Massachusetts,<br />
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.<br />
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