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Combat Exposure and Migraine Headache: Evidence from Exogenous Deployment Assignment

February 12, 2012 Comments off

Combat Exposure and Migraine Headache: Evidence from Exogenous Deployment Assignment

Source:  Institute for the Study of Labor

Migraine headache is a growing problem for U.S. servicemen deployed in the Global War on Terrorism and has been linked to substantial negative socioeconomic consequences. However, there has been no comprehensive examination of the relationship between combat exposure and migraine headache or its stress-related triggers. Using data drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we exploit exogenous variation in deployment assignment to estimate the effect of combat exposure on migraine headache. We find that those deployed to a combat zone with enemy firefight are at substantially increased risk for migraine headache relative to those deployed to non-combat zones outside the United States or to combat zones without enemy firefight. This relationship is robust to controls for pre-deployment migraine status and is largest for those serving in the Army in the post-9/11 period. We find that combat-induced sleep disorders, stress-related psychological problems, and physical injuries in combat explain 47 to 60 percent of the relationship between combat exposure and migraine headache.

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Categories: diseases and conditions, Institute for the Study of Labor, mental health and substance abuse, military and defense

Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption

December 3, 2011 Comments off

Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption
Source: Institute for the Study of Labor

To date, 16 states have passed medical marijuana laws, yet very little is known about their effects. Using state-level data, we examine the relationship between medical marijuana laws and a variety of outcomes. Legalization of medical marijuana is associated with increased use of marijuana among adults, but not among minors. In addition, legalization is associated with a nearly 9 percent decrease in traffic fatalities, most likely to due to its impact on alcohol consumption. Our estimates provide strong evidence that marijuana and alcohol are substitutes.
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+ Full Paper (PDF)

Categories: drugs, health and health care, Institute for the Study of Labor, legal and law enforcement, motor vehicles, safety
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