New research has established that marijuana reduces prescription drug abuse. This research came from scientists at the University of New Mexico (UNM), from a five yearlong study that consisted of 125 participants who suffered from chronic pain.
From the study, eighty-three of the participants used marijuana as a prescriptive pain medication, whereas 42 participants chose to refrain from utilizing it. The study concluded that 34 percent of the marijuana users stopped taking their pain medication, in comparison to the two percent who did not use marijuana too combat their chronic pain. In other words, that means that 98 percent of the non-marijuana users continued taking their opioid pain medications.
“Our current opioid epidemic is the leading preventable form of death in the U.S.—killing more people than car accidents and gun violence,” explained lead author and psychology professor Jacob Miguel Vigil. “Therefore, the relative safety and efficacy of using cannabis in comparison to that of other scheduled medications should be taken by the health providers and legislators.”
Dr. Anthony Reeve, a pain specialist in New Mexico, one of the first doctors to authorize the use of marijuana for patients with chronic pain observed many of his patients were coming back less frequently after they enrolled in the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program (MCP). He also found that many of his patients stated that they were reducing their opioid pain medications and other types of prescription meds too.
The study at UNM was founded on Reeve’s awareness.
Study co-author Dr. Sarah Stith, a micro-economist, added: “The potential for addiction and health risks associated with using multiple scheduled drugs places additional direct monetary and health costs on patients and healthcare systems due to an increased number of side effects, risky drug interactions, dependency, and overdose.”
Opioids, prescription pain killers and street heroin, were responsible for the deaths of over 30,000 Americans in 2015 alone. With opioids alone—including prescription pain killers and street heroin—killing more than 33,000 people in 2015. Academics approve that marijuana is a solution.Their research project is straight forward. Marijuana reduces prescription drug abuse. “No one has ever died from smoking too much cannabis,” stated Vigil.
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