Could medical cannabis be an alternative to medication for pain relief? According to a US report, it could help tackle the opioid crisis plaguing the world.
- Opioids are drugs with analgesic properties used primarily to relieve pain. They can also be produced or obtained illegally.
- They have different side effects, the most serious being the risk of addiction or overdose, especially when consumed outside of a medical framework.
- According to WHO estimates, some 115,000 people died of opioid overdoses in 2017. Opioid overdoses, which are not necessarily fatal, are more common than fatal overdoses.
A recent US report claims that medical cannabis could go a long way towards ending the opioid crisis. Researchers believe that medical cannabis is a viable alternative to opioids for pain relief.
After interviewing thousands of people, the authors report that patients using medical marijuana suffered less and felt better physically and socially. the report was published in the journal Substance Use and Misuse.
9 out of 10 patients had a positive experience with medical cannabis
Scientists from Emerald Coast Research, a Florida-based research organization, and the University of Florida School of Medicine, point out that the majority of respondents who took oxycodone, codeine or another opioid pain relievers were able to stop or reduce their use of opioids after switching to medical cannabis.
A total of 2,183 people participated in the survey. Each was affected by different disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. More than half (61%) used opioids before receiving a medical cannabis prescription, with most having taken them for at least two years.
Survey responses revealed that most patients (90.6%) found medical cannabis to be very or extremely helpful in treating their condition. A similar percentage (88.7%) said it was very or extremely important to their quality of life. Additionally, pain levels were reduced in 85.9% of the participants, while 84% of them reported that their health problems did not interfere with their social activities as much as before. More than half added that physical activities, such as cleaning or shopping, have become more manageable than before.
4 out of 5 people successfully quit or reduce their use of opioids
68.7% noted having at least one side effect from cannabis, the most common being drowsiness, increased appetite or dry mouth: much less serious side effects than most opioids. Four out of five people (79%) who used to take opioids successfully quit or at least cut down on their use.
“A large number of people feel the need to take opioid painkillers”says researcher Carolyn Pritchett, a neuroscientist and biological psychologist, in a communicated. “If it is possible to use a drug instead [le cannabis] with fewer harmful side effects including overdose and death, then perhaps this should be considered.”she adds.
However, the report points to some limitations, including the fact that two study authors have financial or business ties to a medical cannabis company. “More research, including studies that follow patients over time, is needed before the substitution of opioid painkillers for medical cannabis becomes commonplace”, concludes the researcher. The scientific community insists on the lack of research on medical cannabis. And, for now, medical institutions do not see medical cannabis as a long-lasting and effective solution to combat opioid addiction.
Opioid addiction is on the rise around the world
The opioid crisis has worsened with the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, preventable opioid-related deaths increased by more than 40% in the United States. According to the country’s authorities, more than 550,000 Americans have died from opioids in 20 years. Although the opioid crisis is very present in the American continent, including in Canada, it is also a public health problem that is worsening in many countries and in Europe.
