According to last year's study published in the American Journal of Public Health, intravenous opioid injectors who routinely use cannabis are more likely to stop injecting and do so faster than non-marijuana users. A team of researchers from the British Columbia Center on Substance Use came to this conclusion after analyzing the medical histories of over 2,000 patients. In addition to finding that regular cannabis use corresponded to a "faster rate" of injection quit, the study also found that cannabis did not increase subjects' propensity to reopen opioids.
'In the adjusted analysis, at least once-a-day use of cannabis was significantly associated with increased cessation rates [...] As far as we know, this is the first longitudinal study to identify a positive association between cannabis use and cessation of injecting drug use [...] These observations are encouraging given the uncertainty about the impact of cannabis legalization policies during the ongoing opioid overdose crisis… especially among PWID [injectors. Accumulating evidence… linking cannabis use to opioid use behavior further supports the evaluation of the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and certain cannabinoids (eg CBD and THC) for people living with opioid use disorders. '
According to 2019 data, 1 in 8 UK adult citizens receive opioid painkillers. Medical Cannabis Clinics published recent data showing the positive effects of cannabis on the problem of opioid abuse among British people. A survey of hundreds of patients who were prescribed medical marijuana to treat pain found that 86% of patients found marijuana more effective than other medications they had taken before. Chronic pain is a fairly common condition, affecting approximately 40% of the UK population, and therefore equivalent to approximately 28 million adult citizens. According to British pain specialist Dr. Sunny Nayee, marijuana has been unfairly stigmatized for decades, but now is the time to reconsider it in the treatment of many diseases, including pain. Existing treatments for both chronic pain and opioid addiction carry their own risks, prompting experts to consider alternatives and investigate how medical marijuana works in the body. The early data we see in our clinic support the use of marijuana to treat chronic pain and allow patients to safely reduce their opioid consumption. We are still excited about ongoing research into how medical marijuana can support opioid-dependent patients and alleviate their symptoms. ”
Data from the Medical Cannabis Clinics survey also showed that 90% of patients said medical marijuana had a positive effect on their lives, and 93% recommended or recommend treatment to other people with their condition.
https://medicancoin.com/konopie-w-walce-z-opioidami/
"UK data highlights medical cannabis as an opioid crisis solution" https://www.healtheuropa.eu/uk-data-highlights-medical-cannabis-as-an-opioid-crisis-solution/108609/
