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Beach House Recovery Center » Blog » Medical Marijuana as an Opiate Treatment? Pros & Cons of This Eyebrow-Raising Method
Getting out from under the oppressive, debilitating and often quick downward spiral of opiate addiction is never easy. It’s understandable that a great deal of medical research and attention centers on the development and testing of effective, safe treatment to help addicts overcome all forms of addiction, particularly addiction to opiates, which has reached epidemic proportions in recent years.
One such method, albeit quite eyebrow-raising, is the use of medical marijuana as a means of treating opiate addiction.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), medical marijuana is a term that refers to using the unprocessed whole marijuana plant or its basic extracts in order to treat a condition or a disease. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), however, has neither recognized nor approved the marijuana plant as medicine that can be legally (according to federal law) prescribed in the United States.
There are currently only two FDA-approved drugs derived from marijuana chemicals, called cannabinoids, that contain cannabinoids in pill form. These medications are known as dronabinol and nabilone, used for treating nausea and increasing appetite. As scientific research into the medicinal properties of cannabinoids continues, more medications of medical marijuana may be approved.
The main mind-altering ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabinoids are chemicals related to THC. Another marijuana chemical is cannabidiol (CBD), used in the treatment of epilepsy. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other entities continue to explore medicinal uses for THC, CBD and other cannabinoids.
To this end, preclinical and clinical trials are currently being conducted using marijuana and marijuana extracts to treat such diseases and conditions as substance abuse, mental disorders, seizures, pain, Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and inflammation.
While people have used marijuana for a number of health conditions and purposes for around 3,000 years, it’s only within the past dozen or so years that medical marijuana research has gained traction, states have legalized medical marijuana, and public opinion has shifted more in favor of the use of marijuana for medical purposes. In fact, however, this perception that medical marijuana has benefits for certain users is separate from the sentiment that marijuana should be legalized for recreational purposes.
Advocates for medical marijuana to be used as an opiate treatment cite several potential benefits:
The persuasive arguments of medical marijuana proponents aside, there are legitimate concerns over the use of marijuana as an opiate treatment.
Given the reality of the current opiate epidemic and the need to develop and approve safe and effective treatment for such addiction, the widespread public acceptance of medical marijuana, and legislative efforts to push through bills approving medical marijuana, there’s no doubt that medical marijuana as a treatment for opiate addiction will continue to stir interest and spur research. However, much work still needs to be done before medical marijuana will become an approved treatment for opiate addiction.
Sources:
Associated Press, “Could marijuana help treat painkiller and heroin addiction?” Retrieved March 10, 2017
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, “Medical Marijuana Use Among Adolescents in Substance Abuse Treatment.” Retrieved March 9, 2017
International Journal of Drug Policy, “Medical cannabis access, use, and substitution for prescription opioids and other substances: A survey of authorized medical cannabis patients.” Retrieved March 9, 2017
Medscape, “Role for Cannabis in Treatment for Opioid Addiction?” Retrieved March 10, 2017
National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine, “Early Phase in the Development of Cannabidiol as a Treatment for Addiction: Opioid Relapse Takes Initial Center Stage.” Retrieved March 10, 2017
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Is Marijuana Medicine?” Drug Facts: “What is medical marijuana?” Retrieved March 11, 2017
Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, “Opioid Addiction Being Treated With Medical Marijuana in Massachusetts.” Retrieved March 10, 2017
PsychCentral, “The Unexplored Potential of Cannabis to Treat Opioid Addiction.” Retrieved March 11, 2017
The JAMA Network, JAMA Internal Medicine, “Legalization of Medical Marijuana and Incidence of Opioid Mortality.” Retrieved March 10, 2017
Whether you’re researching for yourself or a loved one, Beach House can help. We understand that this is a serious time in your life and that the treatment center you choose matters. We want you to feel comfortable and empowered to make the right decision for yourself, a friend, or a family member. This is why a counselor is waiting and available to answer your questions and help put your mind at ease regarding the next steps. Many of the staff at Beach House have walked in your shoes. If you feel you’re ready or want more information about how to help a loved one, we can help today. You can also learn why we are voted the #1 rehab for addiction treatment in Florida.
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