Cannabis Legalization Does Not Influence Patient Compliance with Opioid Therapy

Area of Science:

• Pain Management
• Pharmacology
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Rising rates of prescription opioid use and opioid-related deaths necessitate research into factors influencing treatment adherence.
• State-level legalization of recreational cannabis presents a new variable in managing chronic pain patients on opioid therapy.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the interplay between recreational cannabis access and patient compliance with prescribed opioids.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively evaluate the effect of cannabis use on opioid therapy compliance in a high-risk patient cohort.
• To ascertain the impact of recreational cannabis legalization on therapeutic opioid adherence.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from a high-risk urine drug testing panel.
• Testing results from one year prior to and one year after recreational cannabis legalization were compared.
• The panel included assays for cannabinoids, other drugs of abuse, and quantitative analysis of 23 opioids and metabolites.

Main Results:

• A 6% increase in positive cannabinoid screening results was observed post-legalization.
• Despite this increase, the overall opioid compliance rate remained consistent before and after legalization.
• 1776 urine drug panels were analyzed pre-legalization and 1648 post-legalization.

Conclusions:

• Legalization of recreational cannabis did not demonstrate a significant effect on opioid therapy compliance rates.
• Findings suggest that chronic pain patients on opioid therapy can maintain adherence despite access to legal recreational cannabis.