Study: Medical Marijuana Cuts Use of Prescription Drugs

A recent study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine revealed that medical marijuana users take fewer other medicines—such as opiates.

Researchers monitored the use of prescription medications among participants enrolled in the Illinois medical marijuana program. This is the first peer-reviewed scientific study conducted which examines this correlation. Their results confirmed that medical marijuana might contribute to the reduced use of opioids.

As the opioid epidemic continues to claim countless lives across the nation, these Illinois researchers think that medical marijuana could be an effective alternative to prescription painkillers.

An Effective Treatment Option?

The study was conducted at Depaul and Rush universities and consisted of 30 participants who were an average age of 45 years old. At the conclusion of the study, participants said that marijuana worked faster to relieve their pain than other prescription medication and had fewer side effects.

Most commonly, marijuana was used as an alternative to opioids, but participants also reported cutting down on other medications, such as:

• Anti-inflammatories
• Anticonvulsants
• Over-the-counter pain relief

Encouraged by their findings, lead researcher—Assistant Professor Douglas Bruce—believes that cannabis could eventually be used to treat many other conditions, such as:

• PTSD
• Cancer
• Fibromyalgia

Shea Evans, 26, a medical marijuana patient (who wasn’t in the study) told the Chicago Tribune that cannabis helped her overcome a substance abuse issue. She’d become dependent on several of the 18 different prescription medications used to treat her medical conditions. She stated, “Medical cannabis is the reason I’m opiate free now… it really gave me my life back and makes my pain manageable, without inebriating me or forming another dependence.”

Researchers want to continue their investigation to determine an ideal individualized dose that could be used to help someone taper off prescription painkillers—like OxyContin.

Could Marijuana Really Stop the Opioid Epidemic?

Previous research conducted at The University of Georgia found that areas with marijuana dispensaries had reduced numbers of opioid overdoses. Another paper, published in a Journal of the American Medical Association, discovered that states with forms of legal marijuana reported a 25% lower annual average opioid death rate.

The Chicago Tribune reported that all of the participants in this study reported a deep dissatisfaction with prescription medications. Bruce said, “One of the most compelling things to come out of this is that people are taking control of their own health, and most providers would agree that’s a good thing.” However, he warned of limitations: “The lack of provider knowledge around what cannabis does and doesn’t do, the difference in products and ingestion methods and dosing, it is all kind of a Wild West.”

How to Find Help for Drug Misuse

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance misuse, help is available and recovery is possible. Rehab programs are located throughout the U.S., and a variety of treatment types is available. You can use SAMHSA’s Find Treatment tool to search for facilities. Many state government websites will provide local drug and alcohol resources to those in need. To find your state government’s website, do a web search for your state name and ‘.gov.’

American Addiction Centers (AAC) is a leading treatment provider and has trusted rehab programs across the country. To learn about treatment options with AAC, please contact one of our caring representatives free at . You can also check your health insurance coverage using the form below.

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