Medical cannabis may reduce opioid use among chronic pain patients – study

A new study revealed that medical cannabis therapy is associated with a potential reduction in prescription opioid use by pain patients.

Researchers analysed trends in pain patient’s use of prescription opioids over a six month period before and after they started using medical cannabis.

The study was conducted using the medical files of 68 Israeli chronic pain patients. The number of prescription medications filled and healthcare services accessed was recorded over six months.

Results showed a small reduction in medication use but the researchers highlighted that there are more studies needed.

They reported that patients, “filled fewer opioid prescription medications at follow-up compared to baseline.”

“Medical cannabis may be related to a significant yet small reduction in opioid prescription medication.”

The study is published in the journal BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care.

Opioid studies

The study confirms previous research on medical cannabis and prescription painkiller use.

Research carried out by the University of Michigan School of Medicine revealed that fibromyalgia patients are substituting opioids for cannabis-derived products. The results showed that 70 percent of participants were now using CBD instead of other pain medications because of the fewer side effects.

Addiction numbers in the US are increasingly high. The research may help to reduce the number of people in the US struggling with addiction, a large percentage of which are chronic pain patients. Opioids carry a high risk of addiction, the potential for abuse and also overdose. Overdose deaths increased from 47,600 in 2017 to 49,860 in 2019.

Opioid reduction

Another study from Canada linked the prescription of medical cannabis to opioid reduction for chronic pain patients.

Researchers found that chronic opioid users were able to reduce their consumption after being authorised to take medical cannabis. They studied the effect of medical cannabis on opioid use between 2013 and 2018 in Alberta, Canada.

A total of 5,373 medical cannabis patients defined as chronic opioid users were matched to controls for the study. Patients’ usage was studied for 26 weeks before and 52 weeks after medical cannabis was prescribed by their healthcare provider.

Patients prescribed lower doses showed a showed an increase in oral morphine equivalent, however, those on higher doses showed a ‘significant decrease’ over six months.

Read more: How do I access a medical cannabis prescription?