New MGA Paper Details Downsides of Prescription Opioid Tax

In a new paper sponsored by Women In Government, MGA examines why a proposed tax on prescription opioids would be ineffective and details the unintended consequences of this policy. The paper explains how, unlike excise taxes applied to cigarettes, alcohol, or fuel, an excise tax on prescription opioids has unique characteristics that diminish its usefulness as a public policy tool. While adequate public spending on opioid treatment and prevention programs is critically important, an opioid tax is not well-targeted to raise revenues or deter abuse.

Read Here