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Cannabis as a Substitute for Opioid-Based Pain Medication: Patient Self-Report
Amanda Reiman1, Mark Welty2, Perry Solomon3
1School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California.
Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
|September 2, 2017
Summary
Medical cannabis offers an effective alternative to opioid pain medication, significantly reducing opioid use and dependence. Patients report cannabis provides comparable pain relief without the severe side effects associated with opioids.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
Background:
- Prescription drug overdoses are a leading cause of accidental death in the U.S.
- There is a critical need for effective alternatives to opioid pain medications.
- Cannabis presents a potential alternative due to its pain-relieving properties and lower risk of dependence and fatal overdose.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the use of cannabis as a substitute for opioid-based pain medication.
- To evaluate patient-reported outcomes comparing cannabis to traditional pain relievers.
- To assess cannabis's efficacy in reducing opioid consumption.
Main Methods:
- Survey data collected from 2897 medical cannabis patients.
- Analysis of self-reported medication use and effectiveness.
- Comparison of cannabis use alone versus with opioid or non-opioid pain medications.
Main Results:
- 34% of patients reported using opioid pain medication in the past 6 months.
- 97% agreed cannabis helps decrease opioid consumption.
- 81% found cannabis alone more effective for pain than with opioids.
Conclusions:
- Cannabis is reported by patients to be as effective as opioids for pain relief, with fewer side effects.
- Cannabis shows promise as a viable substitute for pain treatment and for managing opioid dependence.
- Further clinical research is warranted to validate cannabis as a pain management strategy.
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