Cannabis Can Significantly Reduce Opioid Use

The opioid epidemic has been responsible for drug overdose deaths for many decades. However, research shows that the number of drug overdose deaths was four times higher in 2018 than it was in 1999, indicating that the epidemic isn’t going away anytime soon.

Now, many studies are indicating that cannabis might be a helpful aid when it comes to ending the opioid epidemic as cannabis has been shown to be a safer treatment for chronic pain. This article discusses how cannabis can be used in the treatment of chronic pain instead of opioids, and how to properly use cannabis for pain relief.

Understanding the Opioid Epidemic

By now, everyone is tired of hearing the word “pandemic.” But before the world was plagued with COVID-19, we were dealing with the opioid epidemic. 

Opioids are drugs that come from the opium poppy plant. They are commonly used to block pain signals from the body to the brain for the treatment of chronic pain. Opioids also make you feel relaxed, happy, or “high.” Doctors may prescribe opioids to help deal with the pain associated with cancer, trauma, multiple sclerosis, or chronic muscle pain. 

However, opioids are highly addictive, and they are responsible for thousands of overdose deaths worldwide. They may also cause severe adverse effects in many organ systems, and side effects of opioid use may include fractures, HPA dysregulation, constipation, sleep-disordered breathing, and a decline in quality of life. 

In 2017, the Health and Human Services Department declared a public health emergency, stating that 42,000 people died from an opioid overdose in 2016 alone. Approximately 40% of these deaths were from a prescription opioid. 

Opioids provide a sense of high or extreme well-being among users. However, the drug’s powerful pleasant sensations may wear off over time, prompting users to take more of the drug to get the same high as they did when they first started using it.

Additionally, many opioid users end up turning to stronger drugs to experience the same pain-relieving benefits, such as heroin or cocaine. 

Finding alternative ways to deal with pain management for chronic disorders is imperative for preventing more opioid deaths. 

Luckily, research shows that cannabis may be a safer way to address chronic pain without the deadly consequences of opioids or heroin.

Cannabis Helps Chronic Pain 

Cannabis has been shown to be effective in the treatment of hard to manage pain, due to its ability to influence the endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for pain management. 

But can it take the place of opioids? Many studies say yes. Some even indicate that cannabis can reduce cravings for opioids.

Researchers from one study investigated the impact of CBD on opioid use and quality of life in 131 patients with chronic pain. Of the 131 patients, 97 completed the eight-week study. Patients were between the ages of 30 and 65 years old, and they had been using opioids for at least one year. 

Results found that 53 percent of the patients reduced or eliminated their opioids within eight weeks after adding CBD extract to their chronic pain treatment plans. Approximately 94 percent of users reported improvements in quality of life after taking CBD. 

Another study found that cannabis use was effective as an alternative to prescription opioids in more than half of test subjects with low back pain. Cannabis use was also effective at reducing opioid use in some chronic opioid users. 

You may wish to experiment with cannabis if you suffer from any of the following chronic pain conditions:

Cancer

• Fibromyalgia
• IBS
• Back pain
• Nerve damage
• Arthritis and osteoarthritis
• Migraines
• Multiple sclerosis
• Carpal tunnel
• Herniated disc
• Lupus
• Sciatica
• Scoliosis
• Spinal cord injury
• Autoimmune disorders
• Any many more conditions

Best Cannabis Products for Pain Management 

Health experts agree that the best way to treat an opioid addiction is to never start taking them in the first place. If you or someone you know suffers from chronic pain, then talk to your doctor about cannabis.

There are many CBD and THC based products available to help treat pain, promote calmness and well-being, and alleviate anxiety. You can take Cannabis in the following forms:

• Oils
• Tinctures
• Capsules
• Topicals
• Gummies
• Edibles
• Vape
• Raw flower - smoking

The type of cannabis product you take may depend on the location of your pain. Topical applications may work if your pain is external, which may occur due to skin damage, back pain, or burns.

Taking cannabis capsule or oil form may be helpful for internal pain, such as pain due to cancer, an autoimmune disorder, injury, or nerve and back pain. Talk to your doctor about which cannabis-based treatment for chronic pain is right for you.