Opioid use decreases in patients with access to medical cannabis, study finds
A new study by researchers from Emerald Coast Research and Florida State University College of Medicine found that "Rates of opioid use dropped as patients north- Americans have access to medical cannabis, indicating a harm reduction role, but the health outcomes remain mostly unexplored."
The study showed self-reported medical cannabis use, perceptions of health functioning, and changes in opioid painkiller use among Florida medical cannabis patients.< /p> Method:
Marijuana patients were recruited from medical dispensaries across Florida and completed a 66-item cross-sectional survey that included demographic, health, and medication use items, as well as elements of the medical outcome survey to assess health functioning before and after cannabis initiation, the study noted.
ResultsParticipants were between the ages of 20 and 70 (95%); more than 54% were women; 47% were employed and most (85%) were white. Commonly reported condition groups were pain and mental health combined (47.92%), mental health (28.86%), or pain (9.07%)," the researchers said.
>"The health domains of bodily pain, physical functioning, and social functioning improved while limitations due to physical and emotional problems remained unchanged."
Medical cannabis is quality of lifeIn addition, 60.98% of participants reported using painkillers before medical marijuana, and 93.36% of them reported a change in painkiller after medical cannabis .
The majority of participants (79%) reported stopping or reducing the use of painkillers after initiation of medical cannabis and 11.47% described an improvement in how they work.
Results suggest that some medical cannabis patients reduced their opioid use without harming their quality of life or health soon after the legalization of medical cannabis. "The public health implications of medical cannabis as an alternative pain reliever are discussed," the researchers concluded.
Photo: Courtesy of Stephen Cobb at Unsplash
© 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
CANNABIS BENZINGA CONFERENCEMeet the biggest players in the cannabis industry and strike deals that will drive the industry forward.
Featuring live company presentations, insider panels and unparalleled access to networking, the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is where cannabis executives and entrepreneurs meet .
Join us September 13-14, 2022 at The Palmer House in Chicago, IL.
A new study by researchers from Emerald Coast Research and Florida State University College of Medicine found that "Rates of opioid use dropped as patients north- Americans have access to medical cannabis, indicating a harm reduction role, but the health outcomes remain mostly unexplored."
The study showed self-reported medical cannabis use, perceptions of health functioning, and changes in opioid painkiller use among Florida medical cannabis patients.< /p> Method:
Marijuana patients were recruited from medical dispensaries across Florida and completed a 66-item cross-sectional survey that included demographic, health, and medication use items, as well as elements of the medical outcome survey to assess health functioning before and after cannabis initiation, the study noted.
ResultsParticipants were between the ages of 20 and 70 (95%); more than 54% were women; 47% were employed and most (85%) were white. Commonly reported condition groups were pain and mental health combined (47.92%), mental health (28.86%), or pain (9.07%)," the researchers said.
>"The health domains of bodily pain, physical functioning, and social functioning improved while limitations due to physical and emotional problems remained unchanged."
Medical cannabis is quality of lifeIn addition, 60.98% of participants reported using painkillers before medical marijuana, and 93.36% of them reported a change in painkiller after medical cannabis .
The majority of participants (79%) reported stopping or reducing the use of painkillers after initiation of medical cannabis and 11.47% described an improvement in how they work.
Results suggest that some medical cannabis patients reduced their opioid use without harming their quality of life or health soon after the legalization of medical cannabis. "The public health implications of medical cannabis as an alternative pain reliever are discussed," the researchers concluded.
Photo: Courtesy of Stephen Cobb at Unsplash
© 2022 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
CANNABIS BENZINGA CONFERENCEMeet the biggest players in the cannabis industry and strike deals that will drive the industry forward.
Featuring live company presentations, insider panels and unparalleled access to networking, the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference is where cannabis executives and entrepreneurs meet .
Join us September 13-14, 2022 at The Palmer House in Chicago, IL.
What's Your Reaction?
