More and more research is showing the benefits of marijuana. It can treat several conditions, including pain, anxiety, and inflammation. New evidence is emerging that marijuana could also effectively treat opioid addiction.
The Price of Opioid Addiction in the United States
Opioid addiction is a significant problem in the United States.
Every day, about 38 people die from opioid overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to the CDC, prescription opioid misuse in the U.S. alone burdens the economy at an estimated $78.5 billion a year. This economic burden includes the costs of addiction treatment, criminal justice involvement, healthcare, and lost productivity.
Marijuana In the Treatment Against Opioid Addiction
The reason most people have prescription opioids, in general, is because of pain.
According to the CDC, painkillers are one of the most common prescriptions in the U.S. There were over 140 million prescriptions written in 2020 alone. The number of opioid prescriptions has been falling since 2012 in the U.S. However, we still have a long way to go in curbing the opioid problem, and marijuana may be an answer to that.
Marijuana in the treatment of opioid addiction is still somewhat controversial, but there is some evidence that it may help. A 2020 study from the Journal of Health Economics studied the Italian people’s response after light cannabis, or CBD-based products, were decriminalized in 2017.
The study found that people significantly substituted light cannabis for anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anxiolytics, opioids, and sedatives.
Marijuana has many similarities to opioids if we look at how they respond biologically in the body. For example, you can find cannabinoid and opioid receptors in the same part of the brain. And cannabinoid receptors can converse with opioid receptors, reducing the pain signals sent to specific body parts.
Certain parts of marijuana can also help with the symptoms of opioid abuse. You can treat insomnia with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinol (CBN). THC and CBD can reduce cravings. And THC taken alone can reduce nausea and increase appetite.
There are still some questions about how effective marijuana is as a treatment for opioid addiction, but the evidence seems to be pointing in that direction. With over two million Americans currently addicted to opioids, it is time to explore all possible treatments, including marijuana.
If you are interested in getting a Certified Medical Marijuana Card and the numerous benefits, make an appointment with Medwell Health today.
Aaron Bloom serves as the CEO, overseeing the mission and growth of DocMJ and Medwell Health and Wellness Centers. Aaron’s passion for improving patients’ lives comes from his background in health care. For more than 20 years, Aaron owned, operated, and represented traditional healthcare organizations. This experience created a passion for finding improved ways to relieve suffering. His goal as CEO is to work daily to relieve all patients who seek better health and wellness through the medicinal benefits of medical cannabis and evidence-based alternative medicines.
