Medical cannabis is being used increasingly as an alternative to opioids for chronic pain, often in conjunction with opioids to reduce opioid dose and improve patient function. Many people report lessening their own dependency on pain medication as they use medical cannabis.
As published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, researchers examined data from 273 patients at a medical cannabis clinic. More than 60 percent of the participants reported also using prescription pain medication within the past month. There were no significant differences in de novo co-occurring substance use between those on prescription pain medication and those not. Additionally, chronic pain patients were not at increased risk for other drug involvement.
As published in the Journal of Psychoactive drugs, in a retail store survey of 1,000 adult-use (recreational) only customer respondents, 65% reported taking cannabis to relieve pain and 74% reported taking cannabis to promote sleep. Of those taking cannabis to relieve pain, 80% reported that it was very or extremely helpful, and most of those taking over-the-counter pain medications (82%) or opioid analgesics (88%) reported reducing or stopping use of those medications. Of those taking cannabis to promote and help sleep, 84% found it very or extremely helpful, and most of those taking over-the-counter (87%) or prescription sleep aids (83%) reported reducing or stopping use of those medications.
De factor recreational cannabis use for medical use was common among dispensary customers, and the majority reported that cannabis decreased their medication use. Increased cannabis access may therefore result in patients self-reducing their use of prescription painkillers.
