diff --git a/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230718-125518.yaml b/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230718-125518.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..be3c7e9d8ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/unreleased/Fixes-20230718-125518.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+kind: Fixes
+body: Enable converting deprecation warnings to errors
+time: 2023-07-18T12:55:18.03914-04:00
+custom:
+  Author: michelleark
+  Issue: "8130"
diff --git a/core/dbt/events/types.py b/core/dbt/events/types.py
index e236eb7a155..a8740d58c7b 100644
--- a/core/dbt/events/types.py
+++ b/core/dbt/events/types.py
@@ -1153,10 +1153,11 @@ def code(self):
 
     def message(self) -> str:
         version = ".v" + self.model_version if self.model_version else ""
-        return (
+        msg = (
             f"Model {self.model_name}{version} has passed its deprecation date of {self.deprecation_date}. "
             "This model should be disabled or removed."
         )
+        return warning_tag(msg)
 
 
 class UpcomingReferenceDeprecation(WarnLevel):
@@ -1178,7 +1179,7 @@ def message(self) -> str:
             )
             msg = msg + coda
 
-        return msg
+        return warning_tag(msg)
 
 
 class DeprecatedReference(WarnLevel):
@@ -1200,7 +1201,7 @@ def message(self) -> str:
             )
             msg = msg + coda
 
-        return msg
+        return warning_tag(msg)
 
 
 class UnsupportedConstraintMaterialization(WarnLevel):
diff --git a/core/dbt/parser/manifest.py b/core/dbt/parser/manifest.py
index bb47cb51867..259413dde3d 100644
--- a/core/dbt/parser/manifest.py
+++ b/core/dbt/parser/manifest.py
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ def check_for_model_deprecations(self):
                     node.deprecation_date
                     and node.deprecation_date < datetime.datetime.now().astimezone()
                 ):
-                    fire_event(
+                    warn_or_error(
                         DeprecatedModel(
                             model_name=node.name,
                             model_version=version_to_str(node.version),
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ def check_for_model_deprecations(self):
                         else:
                             event_cls = UpcomingReferenceDeprecation
 
-                        fire_event(
+                        warn_or_error(
                             event_cls(
                                 model_name=node.name,
                                 ref_model_package=resolved_ref.package_name,
diff --git a/tests/functional/deprecations/model_deprecations.py b/tests/functional/deprecations/model_deprecations.py
index f57f790624b..94a67c3bfe2 100644
--- a/tests/functional/deprecations/model_deprecations.py
+++ b/tests/functional/deprecations/model_deprecations.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import pytest
 
+from dbt.exceptions import EventCompilationError
 from dbt.cli.main import dbtRunner
+from dbt.tests.util import run_dbt
+
 
 deprecated_model__yml = """
 version: 2
@@ -41,6 +44,14 @@ def test_deprecation_warning(self, project):
         assert len(matches) == 1
         assert matches[0].data.model_name == "my_model"
 
+    def test_deprecation_warning_error(self, project):
+        with pytest.raises(EventCompilationError):
+            run_dbt(["--warn-error", "parse"])
+
+    def test_deprecation_warning_error_options(self, project):
+        with pytest.raises(EventCompilationError):
+            run_dbt(["--warn-error-options", '{"include": ["DeprecatedModel"]}', "parse"])
+
 
 class TestReferenceDeprecatingWarning:
     @pytest.fixture(scope="class")
@@ -59,6 +70,16 @@ def test_deprecation_warning(self, project):
         assert matches[0].data.model_name == "my_dependant_model"
         assert matches[0].data.ref_model_name == "my_model"
 
+    def test_deprecation_warning_error(self, project):
+        with pytest.raises(EventCompilationError):
+            run_dbt(["--warn-error", "parse"])
+
+    def test_deprecation_warning_error_options(self, project):
+        with pytest.raises(EventCompilationError):
+            run_dbt(
+                ["--warn-error-options", '{"include": ["UpcomingReferenceDeprecation"]}', "parse"]
+            )
+
 
 class TestReferenceDeprecatedWarning:
     @pytest.fixture(scope="class")
@@ -76,3 +97,11 @@ def test_deprecation_warning(self, project):
         assert len(matches) == 1
         assert matches[0].data.model_name == "my_dependant_model"
         assert matches[0].data.ref_model_name == "my_model"
+
+    def test_deprecation_warning_error(self, project):
+        with pytest.raises(EventCompilationError):
+            run_dbt(["--warn-error", "parse"])
+
+    def test_deprecation_warning_error_options(self, project):
+        with pytest.raises(EventCompilationError):
+            run_dbt(["--warn-error-options", '{"include": ["DeprecatedReference"]}', "parse"])