As cannabis research becomes more accessible, we’re understanding more every day just how beneficial this plant can be. Recently, Ohio State University published a new study covering using medical marijuana for opioid addiction — and there’s a lot to talk about.
So, what did this study have to say about marijuana and opioid usage? Can it be effective in reducing consumption?
Let’s explore.
Marijuana for Opioid Addiction: A New Study
Published in July of this year, Ohio State University researchers aimed to investigate whether marijuana use reduces the consumption of prescription painkillers and other illicit drugs among current and potential Ohio MMJ patients.
The researchers surveyed individuals to understand their perceptions and experiences regarding the substitution of marijuana for these substances.
The study was built upon existing research that suggests marijuana might be an effective alternative for pain management and could potentially reduce the use of more harmful drugs.
Participants were asked to indicate their agreement with statements about marijuana reducing their need for prescription painkillers and other illegal drugs.
The responses were then analyzed to assess the extent of agreement among different user groups, particularly focusing on daily versus less frequent marijuana users.
What Ohio State Found
So, what did this study find regarding medical marijuana for opioid addiction and consumption?
To break it down, the study concluded that a significant majority of respondents reported that using marijuana reduced their use of prescription painkillers and, to a lesser extent, other illicit drugs.
Specifically, 77.55% of respondents agreed that marijuana reduced their need to use prescription painkillers, with daily users being more likely to agree (80.54%) compared to non-daily users (70.14%).
Additionally, 26.78% of respondents agreed that marijuana reduced their use of other illegal drugs, with daily users again more likely to agree (30.55%) compared to non-daily users (17.54%).
The study’s findings are pretty consistent with previous research, reinforcing the potential of marijuana as a substitute for more harmful substances.
The results suggest that marijuana could play a role in reducing the reliance on prescription painkillers and potentially lowering the use of illicit drugs.
The study also highlighted the need for more rigorous research, particularly randomized controlled trials, to further validate these findings and explore the broader implications for policy and public health.
What Does This Mean for Opioid Recovery?
Studies like these are incredibly impactful both for the cannabis industry and for opioid reduction and recovery.
For example, the significant reduction in prescription painkiller use among marijuana users suggests that medical marijuana could be a viable alternative treatment for managing chronic pain.
This could help patients reduce their dependence on opioids, which are highly addictive and have severe side effects.
Medical cannabis consumption might be integrated into opioid recovery programs as part of a broader harm reduction strategy.
By providing a safer alternative, recovery programs can potentially reduce opioid relapse rates and improve overall treatment outcomes.
Impact on Medical Marijuana Consumers
As evidence grows supporting the efficacy of marijuana in reducing opioid and illicit drug use, more patients and healthcare providers might consider medical marijuana as a legitimate and effective treatment option.
This could lead to increased acceptance and use of medical marijuana.
Medical professionals might start developing more personalized treatment plans that include medical marijuana — especially for patients with chronic pain or those undergoing opioid recovery.
Broader Harm Reduction
If medical marijuana effectively reduces the use of illicit drugs, as suggested by the study, this could have broader social and public health benefits.
Lower rates of illicit drug use could lead to fewer drug-related crimes, overdoses, and healthcare costs associated with treating addiction and its complications.
Integrating medical marijuana into harm reduction strategies could also lead to better overall public health outcomes.
With fewer individuals reliant on opioids and other harmful substances, there could be a decrease in drug-related health issues, improving the quality of life for many patients.
Getting a Medical Marijuana Card for Opioid Addiction
It’s clear that medical marijuana can do wonders for health and wellness, even branching into life-saving harm reduction sectors. The more researchers conduct studies like these, the more the public will begin to understand just how viable cannabis can be in the medical field.
Truly, this Ohio State study is just the start, but it gives amazing insight into what we can do with this plant and how it can help people tenfold.
You can get a medical marijuana card for various qualifying conditions here with Elevate Holistics, too. Our appointments are entirely online and only last a few minutes, so there’s no disruption to your busy schedule.
Click the button below to get started and stay up-to-date on all the ways that medical cannabis can help you.
