2 ms·

Do people replace opioids with cannabis?

bobthepanda 4y ago
It’s mostly used more for chronic pain, I thought. Particularly where pain starts suppressing appetite, weed induced munchies are a great way to keep things down.
barbazoo 4y ago
Very much so. Here's just a few resources on this from Vancouver: https://www.vice.com/en/article/ne45vd/more-vancouver-opioid-users-are-choosing-weed-as-a-substitute https://www.vice.com/en/article/ne45vd/more-vancouver-opioid... https://mugglehead.com/vancouver-cannabis-harm-reduction-project-takes-to-the-streets/ https://mugglehead.com/vancouver-cannabis-harm-reduction-pro...
- cantSpellSober 4y ago
  Thanks, a replacement for methadone though? I'm skeptical: "...no consensus among studies that cannabis use is associated with reduced opioid use or longer treatment retention when used during methadone maintenance therapy" https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31744904/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31744904/
GeekyBear 4y ago
>States with medical marijuana laws had a 24.8 percent lower average annual opioid overdose death rate compared to states without such laws. In 2010, that translated to about 1,729 fewer deaths than expected. The years after implementation of medical marijuana laws also were associated with lower overdose death rates that generally got stronger over time: year 1 (-19.9 percent), year 2 (-25.2 percent), year 3 (-23.6 percent), year 4 (-20.2 percent), year 5 (-33.7 percent) and year 6 (-33.3 percent). https://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/lower-opioid-overdose-death-rates-associated-with-state-medical-marijuana-laws/ https://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/lower-opioid-overdos...
- cantSpellSober 4y ago
  Yes but "the reason why is not clear" and "a direct causal link cannot be established"
  - pmoleri 4y ago
    Sarcasm, right?
    - cantSpellSober 4y ago
      Worthless comment, right? If you'd read the link you'd know I'm quoting directly. It cites studies, like this one: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4392651/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4392651/ ...which declares other correlations: "cannabis use has been linked with increased use of other drugs, including opioids" again adding "however, a causal relationship has not been established." Should we assume the bad stuff is causal, too? I don't believe we should.
- bobthepanda 4y ago
  Is that from people switching from opioids to marijuana, or from less new people starting with opioids?
bitxbitxbitcoin 4y ago
Yes. In fact, it seems that when legalization happens - opioid use/overdoses in neighboring states goes down too.[0] [0] https://thehighestcritic.com/news/recreational-marijuana-legalization-reduces-drug-overdose-deaths-in-neighboring-states-too/ https://thehighestcritic.com/news/recreational-marijuana-leg...

It’s mostly used more for chronic pain, I thought. Particularly where pain starts suppressing appetite, weed induced munchies are a great way to keep things down.

barbazoo 4y ago

Very much so. Here's just a few resources on this from Vancouver: https://www.vice.com/en/article/ne45vd/more-vancouver-opioid-users-are-choosing-weed-as-a-substitute https://www.vice.com/en/article/ne45vd/more-vancouver-opioid... https://mugglehead.com/vancouver-cannabis-harm-reduction-project-takes-to-the-streets/ https://mugglehead.com/vancouver-cannabis-harm-reduction-pro...

cantSpellSober 4y ago
Thanks, a replacement for methadone though? I'm skeptical: "...no consensus among studies that cannabis use is associated with reduced opioid use or longer treatment retention when used during methadone maintenance therapy" https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31744904/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31744904/

GeekyBear 4y ago

>States with medical marijuana laws had a 24.8 percent lower average annual opioid overdose death rate compared to states without such laws. In 2010, that translated to about 1,729 fewer deaths than expected. The years after implementation of medical marijuana laws also were associated with lower overdose death rates that generally got stronger over time: year 1 (-19.9 percent), year 2 (-25.2 percent), year 3 (-23.6 percent), year 4 (-20.2 percent), year 5 (-33.7 percent) and year 6 (-33.3 percent). https://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/lower-opioid-overdose-death-rates-associated-with-state-medical-marijuana-laws/ https://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/lower-opioid-overdos...

cantSpellSober 4y ago
Yes but "the reason why is not clear" and "a direct causal link cannot be established"
- pmoleri 4y ago
  Sarcasm, right?
  - cantSpellSober 4y ago
    Worthless comment, right? If you'd read the link you'd know I'm quoting directly. It cites studies, like this one: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4392651/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4392651/ ...which declares other correlations: "cannabis use has been linked with increased use of other drugs, including opioids" again adding "however, a causal relationship has not been established." Should we assume the bad stuff is causal, too? I don't believe we should.
bobthepanda 4y ago
Is that from people switching from opioids to marijuana, or from less new people starting with opioids?

bitxbitxbitcoin 4y ago

Yes. In fact, it seems that when legalization happens - opioid use/overdoses in neighboring states goes down too.[0] [0] https://thehighestcritic.com/news/recreational-marijuana-legalization-reduces-drug-overdose-deaths-in-neighboring-states-too/ https://thehighestcritic.com/news/recreational-marijuana-leg...