Not So Fast
Medical marijuana is often cited as one of many potential solutions
to the opioid crisis. Earlier, this month, two new studies were released
highlighting that there is indeed a role for medical and recreational
marijuana usage to play in combating the opioid epidemic. The basis for
the study is that in most cases, individuals are guided towards
dangerous opioids like heroin and oxycodon by having first had
prescriptions to other opioids. And because marijuana has been proven to
be an effective treatment for chronic pain, it is possible that it
could replace the first part of that journey so that individuals never
have to fill that first prescription.
Medical marijuana is often cited as one of many potential solutions to the opioid crisis. Earlier, this month, two new studies were released highlighting that there is indeed a role for medical and recreational marijuana usage to play in combating the opioid epidemic. The basis for the study is that in most cases, individuals are guided towards dangerous opioids like heroin and oxycodon by having first had prescriptions to other opioids. And because marijuana has been proven to be an effective treatment for chronic pain, it is possible that it could replace the first part of that journey so that individuals never have to fill that first prescription.
One clear benefit to implementing such programs is that marajuana is less additive and dangerous than its opiate counterparts so users would be less likely to expand their usage in such a way that could be fatal. The first study, led by W. David Bradford, collected data from Medicare (a health care program for individuals 65+) and found significant reductions in opioid use within states that have opened medical marajuana dispensaries. In fact, the research shows a 14% reduction or 3.7 million doses daily in areas where there is easy access to marajuana. To put this into perspective, Medicare recipients fill an average of 23 million doses daily. In reading these data, please note that the 14% reduction is a decline in the pace at which opioid use has increased and not an overall reduction, and that because of the statisticla significane of the results and the way that opioid use interacts with other variables, the researchers cannot say for certain that these reductions are a result of expanded access medical marajuana. However, the study does indicate that there is serious potential for medical marajuana as a form of treatment.
A second study
conducted by researchers from Emory University and the University of
Kentucky found decreases in opioid prescriptions among Medicaid
recipients (an insurance program benefiting low income individuals) in
states with lighter laws regarding medical and recreational marijuana
use.
Medical marijuana is often cited as one of many potential solutions to the opioid crisis. Earlier, this month, two new studies were released highlighting that there is indeed a role for medical and recreational marijuana usage to play in combating the opioid epidemic. The basis for the study is that in most cases, individuals are guided towards dangerous opioids like heroin and oxycodon by having first had prescriptions to other opioids. And because marijuana has been proven to be an effective treatment for chronic pain, it is possible that it could replace the first part of that journey so that individuals never have to fill that first prescription.
One clear benefit to implementing such programs is that marajuana is less additive and dangerous than its opiate counterparts so users would be less likely to expand their usage in such a way that could be fatal. The first study, led by W. David Bradford, collected data from Medicare (a health care program for individuals 65+) and found significant reductions in opioid use within states that have opened medical marajuana dispensaries. In fact, the research shows a 14% reduction or 3.7 million doses daily in areas where there is easy access to marajuana. To put this into perspective, Medicare recipients fill an average of 23 million doses daily. In reading these data, please note that the 14% reduction is a decline in the pace at which opioid use has increased and not an overall reduction, and that because of the statisticla significane of the results and the way that opioid use interacts with other variables, the researchers cannot say for certain that these reductions are a result of expanded access medical marajuana. However, the study does indicate that there is serious potential for medical marajuana as a form of treatment.
While
there is room for interpretation of both studies, the researchers
highlight that while there is a
role for medical marijuana to play in combating the opioid crisis, there
are
still risks to be aware because like any drug, it can be misused. As
Bradford,
the author of the first study states, the answer is not to say “Oh,
great, the answer
to the opiate problem is just cannabis in everybody’s medicine chest"
indicating that all policies need to be thoroughly thought through. Dr.
Mark
Olfson, a psychiatrist out of Columbia University, cites concerns around
the implementation
of medical marijuana treatment based on his own study that found marijuana users
were more likely to use opioids. He elaborates to say that going forward, there
need to be more studies that focus on individuals so that researchers can shed
more light on the effect such a program would play. So, like all drug programs,
medical marijuana must be enacted carefully.
This is certainly an interesting concept. While not something that should be implemented lightly, the idea of "fighting fire with fire" like you described is a very innovative idea to fight the opioid crisis (and we are badly in need of innovative ideas).
ReplyDeleteCharles, I do think sometimes it's easy for scientists to look at the general population and the general effects of the topic in question. In this case, they are looking at general statistics about marijuana use. However, I don't think these scientists will make any great strides until they begin looking at individuals and individualized care. I do think that someday marijuana will be legalized and will benefit the medical industry, but I do not think it is our best option to "cure" the opioid epidemic.
ReplyDeleteI found this research to be incredibly interesting considering that many often view marijuana as a gateway drug that would increase the opioid use rather than the other way around. The consideration of marijuana as a gateway drug is a topic we've been working with in my criminology class so it'll be really nice to mention these studies in class.
ReplyDeleteI think there is a huge cause and effect relationship to all actions taken, and the effects often times can not be measured completely or totally predicted. This being said, if more people are being prescribed medical marijuana than opioids, there will be less opioid circulation and less opioid possession by patients. In this simple regard, yes, less opioids= decrease in availability and accessibility. A staggering amount of opioid addicted Americans are addicted from pain prescriptions post-op. This is how opioids get into the medicine cabinets of teenagers and parents (that their kids can find and take).
ReplyDeleteThere are actually a lot of doctors who aren't informed of how addictive certain opiates are, or if the medicine they're prescribing are opiates at all. Most cases, it's the drug companies producing the drugs that are pushing them onto doctors, under threat that their medical licences could be removed. Though it might be helpful using marijuana to help with opiate addiction, I think it's bound to open up another can of worms later down the road.
ReplyDelete