Rahi Abouk, PhD, Director

Abouk

EMAIL: aboukr@wpunj.edu
PHONE: 973 720 3908
Faculty Web Page

Rahi Abouk’s research interests lie in health economics and the economics of substance abuse. He explores determining factors and consequences associated with individuals’ health-related behaviors. He investigates the effect of public policies targeting electronic and conventional cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis, and opioid drugs. On cannabis, he has published a paper exploring the link between the legalization of medical marijuana and cardiovascular-related deaths in the United States. He is currently working on research focused on the labor market effects of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes and the effect on children and youths. Dr. Abouk is also the principal investigator on a R21 grant recently awarded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to study the effect of e-prescribing mandates on opioid abuse.

Dr. Abouk has published papers in eading journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), JAMA Internal Medicine, Journal of Health Economics, American Journal of Health Economics, the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, Strategic Management Journal, International Journal of Drug Policy, International Journal of Neonatal Screening, Journal of Public Health Policy, Maternal and Child Health Journal, and Economics Letters.

Publications

Abouk, R., Pacula, R.L., Powell, D. (2019). “Association Between State Laws Facilitating Pharmacy Distribution of Naloxone and Risk of Fatal Overdose,” JAMA Internal Medicine, 179(6): 805–811.

Abouk, R., Adams, S.J. (2018). "Examining the Relationship between Medical Marijuana Laws and Cardiovascular Deaths in the U.S.,” International Journal of Drug Policy, 53, 1-7.

Abouk, R., Adams, S.J. (2017). "Bans on Electronic Cigarette Sales to Minors and Smoking among High School Students,” Journal of Health Economics, 54, 17-24.

Abouk R., Adams, S.J. (2017). "Compliance Inspections of Tobacco Retailers and Youth Smoking,” American Journal of Health Economics, 3(1), 10-32.

Bartholomew, K., Abouk, R. (2016). "The Effect of Local Smoke-free Regulations on Birth Outcomes and Prenatal Smoking,” Maternal and Child Health Journal, 20(7), 1526-1538.