New IU study: Opioid epidemic to cost state $4 billion in 2018

Ryan Brewer, associate professor of finance at Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus, and Kayla Freeman, a doctoral candidate in finance at the IU Kelley School of Business, studied the effect of the opioid epidemic on state and local economies. 

"I think it's a big social problem for Indiana, of course," Brewer said. "When you have people out of the workforce, it's less attractive for business owners and less attractive for people considering moving here."

Opioid misuse may prevent users from being part of the workforce. In addition, the research estimates 12,300 Indiana residents died as a result of opioid overdose from 2003 to 2017.