A new prospective study has just shown that cannabis is not effective against chronic pain. More than interesting results, while the Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn recently announced that medical cannabis “could arrive in France”.
While the Minister of Health Agnès Buzyn recently announced that medical cannabis “could arrive in France”, a new prospective study published by The Lancet has just shown that this substance is not effective against chronic pain. We are talking about chronic pain that is not due to cancer.
Remember also that if strong opioid pain relievers have been used extensively to treat chronic pain in the United States since the 1990s, an increasing number of drug-related overdose deaths have prompted American physicians and policy makers to reconsider this approach.
8.4 million French people could suffer less if they were better taken care of
“We wanted to investigate cannabis use in people living with chronic non-cancer pain who had been prescribed opioids, including the reasons for their use and the perceived effectiveness of cannabis,” the researchers explain.
Back pain, headaches and more chronic pain already affect a third of Americans, a proportion that is worsening as the prevalence of diabetes, obesity and arthritis increases. In France, at least 12 million people suffer from chronic pain, and “70% of these 12 million patients do not receive an appropriate treatment”, denounced last year the specialists gathered within the French company of study and Treatment of Pain (SFETD). In other words, 8.4 million French people could suffer less if they were better taken care of.
1514 participants
The recruitment of the cohort took place from August 13, 2012 to April 8, 2014. 1514 participants were questioned, among other things, on the origins and duration of chronic pain, cannabis use during life and 12 recent months, taking opioids and whether or not you have generalized depressive or anxiety disorder.
After four years of follow-up, 295 participants (24%) had used cannabis for pain relief. Compared to people who did not use cannabis, the researchers found that participants who had used cannabis had “a higher pain severity score.” “We found no evidence that cannabis use reduced the use of prescribed opioids or increased opioid cessation rates,” the scientists add.
French market authorization
Thus, the consumption of cannabis does not decrease chronic pain, contrary to what many pro-therapeutic cannabis activists maintain. Currently, only one cannabinoid drug has a marketing authorization in France: Sativex, recommended against spasticity and multiple sclerosis.
Dronabinol and cannabidiol, used for patients with neuropathic pain refractory to conventional treatments or epilepsy are accessible, but only with a nominative temporary authorization (procedure allowing to make available to certain patients a medicinal product without marketing authorization and not subject to a clinical trial in this indication).
.
