Patients with opioid-use disorder often must go above and beyond to access life-saving drugs such as methadone and suboxone as well as naloxone, the drug that reverses overdoses. In the last 10 years, opioid overdose mortality rates have increased significantly, mainly because of fentanyl in the illicit drug trade in America.
Now, a new study has determined that marijuana may help reduce the use of opioids or even stop their use completely. The study was led by Sid Ganesh, a PhD student at the School of Medicine, University of Southern California (USC).
For their study, the researchers interviewed 30 individuals who were receiving services from a methadone clinic and a syringe exchange in Los Angeles. All of them admitted that marijuana was useful in helping manage their use of opioids, partly because it had become easier to access the drug in the last couple of years.
The study also discovered that marijuana helped participants manage their withdrawal symptoms, as well as anxiety and cravings, which followed withdrawal.
This study, which was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is unique since it centers on the lived experiences of individuals who use drugs and utilized qualitative data in its analysis. Ganesh explained that qualitative research offered insight into what was effective for a certain population and why said study population was handling issues that may not present in a data point.
The study determined that 70% of the participants made less than $2,100 a month while 57% were unstably housed or unhoused. She noted that any information that could help identify the complicated relationship between opioid overdose and addiction as well as marijuana use was important.
In the last couple of years, opioid overdoses that have resulted in deaths have risen significantly, with more than 80,000 individuals dying in 2022.
Different studies suggest that the legalization of marijuana has helped decrease the consumption of opioids. However, its impact on rates of opioid overdose is mixed, with some studies determining that legal states have fewer cases of opioid overdose.
Professor Ryan Marino of Case Western Reserve University explained that it was hard to determine the influence marijuana legalization had on overdose rates. Marino, who is also an addiction medicine specialist, noted that this was mainly because of toxic drug supplies, and particularly the prevalence of fentanyl.
Marino revealed that individuals who had recently cut down on or quit opioids were especially at risk for overdose because their tolerance was lower. Marino added that while some patients successfully used marijuana to stop using opioids or at least cut down, others saw no improvements. This meant that while the treatment wasn’t effective for the majority of those struggling with opioid-use disorder, it could help some people.
Ganesh’s team reported its findings in “Drug and Alcohol Dependence Reports.”
These broader benefits of marijuana in combating the opioid crisis make the decision to end prohibition and license companies such as SNDL Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDL) a justifiable one since studies are unearthing more ways that communities are benefiting from access to legal marijuana, both medical or recreational use.
About CannabisNewsWire
CannabisNewsWire (“CNW”) is a specialized communications platform with a focus on cannabis news and the cannabis sector. It is one of 60+ brands within the Dynamic Brand Portfolio @ IBN that delivers: (1) access to a vast network of wire solutions via InvestorWire to efficiently and effectively reach a myriad of target markets, demographics and diverse industries; (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ outlets; (3) enhanced press release enhancement to ensure maximum impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN to millions of social media followers; and (5) a full array of tailored corporate communications solutions. With broad reach and a seasoned team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that want to reach a wide audience of investors, influencers, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where breaking news, insightful content and actionable information converge.
To receive SMS alerts from CNW, text CANNABIS to 888-902-4192 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: https://www.CannabisNewsWire.com/Disclaimer
CannabisNewsWire
Denver, CO
www.CannabisNewsWire.com
303.498.7722 Office
Editor@CannabisNewsWire.com
CannabisNewsWire is powered by IBN
