Source

Finn, Kenneth. “Why Marijuana Will Not Fix the Opioid Epidemic.” Missouri Medicine 115.3

(2018): 191-193. Web.

 

Keywords

Marijuana, THC, Cannabidiol,  cyclic adenosine monophosphate,

Summary

How Medical Marijuana would have no effect on the opioid epidemic which is counterintuitive at first but point me towards the challenges of proving that Marijuana can replace opioid containing drugs. Looks at statistics that both support and contradict the essays argument. Statistics that show a positive response to marijuana legalization whilst also presenting new records in overdose statistics of legal states. Written by Kenneth Finn MD the article itself is a peer reviewed essay as part of the Missouri Medicine journal and makes the point that cannabis is a remedy but with current research it doesn’t work as a direct pain remedy. Writing that research on cannabis didn’t boom until 20 years ago which is quite new for the medical field.

Personal Response

This article or peer reviewed essay is useful despite the opposite view to my essay. The included meta-analysis sources show some funny statistics that need more interpretation than what was done in the article. Like the Colorado statistic seeing a record in Opioid deaths but has seen a decrease in opioid prescriptions. The writing and evidence are also written in a neutral fashion presenting arguments and following with a counter argument or anecdote about the evidence being presented. Such as mentioning how marijuana potency has changed through the years when looking at evidence. Most of the evidence will be used as counterargument material in the conclusion or in a separate paragraph.

 

Key Quotations

“At the time, it was reported that people in pain did not become addicted to opioids, and the number of opioid prescriptions started to increase over time, followed by an increase in opioid overdose deaths.”

 

“Additional articles relying on this primary paper misleading stating that “there is substantial evidence that cannabis is an effective treatment for chronic pain in adults.” Both articles noted that products typically studied are not available in the United States (nabiximols, Sativex) or were with available synthetic agents (dronabinol, nabilone), and were studied in less common pain conditions: neuropathic and cancer pain.”

 

“More than 90% of heroin users report a prior history of marijuana use compared to a prior history of painkiller use (47%).13 Prospective twin studies demonstrated that early cannabis use was associated with an increased risk of other drug abuse”

 

“In 2017 Colorado had a record number of opioid overdose deaths from any opioid, including heroin and Colorado has had a medical marijuana program since 2001”

 

Borrowed Sources

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Source

Voelker, Rebecca. “States Move to Substitute Opioids With Medical Marijuana to Quell

Epidemic.” JAMA 320.23 (2018): 2408-2410. Web.

 

Keywords

Cartel, Fentanyl, Heroine,

Summary

Marijuana legalization caused cartels had to up sales of other drugs to replace the 40% decrease in Marijuana sales as these were replaced by US crop. Looks at employment and opioids and marijuana legalization. Major issues with workplace that don’t enforce enough drug use responsibilities. Finding that as much as a third of employees can be found with active hydrocodone in their system. However, opioids are allowed substances unlike marijuana which is yet to have major employer adoption.

Personal Response

Lots of ideas on alternatives rather than direct combat of opioids vs. marijuana. Hard to look away  from this big battle that the major medias have been creating. Yet the article looks at a range of remedies that will be helpful in countering the absurd amount of opioid prescriptions.

Key Quotations

 

“offers providers another treatment option, which is a critical step in combating the deadly opioid epidemic affecting people across the state.” In Illinois, Gov Bruce Rauner said the law he signed into effect in August is “creating an alternative to opioid addiction.”

 

“Some experts say these laws may be in response to several studies that indicated opioid overdose death rates were lower in states that permit medical marijuana, and that opioid prescribing was lower in Medicaid and Medicare Part D Programs in states with legalized medical marijuana.”

 

“However, a recent Cochrane review of 16 studies that included 1750 participants concluded that potential benefits of cannabis-based medications in relieving chronic neuropathic pain may be outweighed by adverse events including somnolence, confusion, and psychosis. Nevertheless, the authors noted that studies in the review were small in size, which could lead to bias, and none produced high-quality evidence to support using medical marijuana for neuropathic pain.”

 

“What’s more, the epidemic goes far beyond prescribed opioids. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has driven much of the increase in opioid overdose deaths since 2013”

 

Borrowed Sources

 

(Article Hyperlinks)

 

Source

DEYO, RICHARD A. Watch Your Back!: How the Back Pain Industry Is Costing Us More and Giving Us Less—and What You Can Do to Inform and Empower Yourself in Seeking Treatment. 1st ed., Cornell University Press, 2014.

Keywords

Chronic Pain, Purdue Pharma,

Summary

Book by Dr. Richard Deyo that offers patients, physicians and policymakers an insightful, evidence-based, and highly readable account of the many options for people caring for their aching backs. Back pain and opioids coming hand in hand in the book as Vicodin being the most prescribed medication in the US and the most common condition being back pain. The book looks at the rise and problems that were brought up with the more prescriptions for Vicodin. The chapters also look at more holistic approaches to back pain and why they don’t top the chart in remedies. Ultimately the book covers the philosophy and mindset that people have imposed on them by doctors and the opioids.

Personal Response

It wasn’t until 1989 where there was a movement to increase opioid prescriptions for cancer patients and those in terminal illness. Yet, cancer is only about 8% of the reasons for opioid prescriptions, the most popular reason being back pain. Acknowledging that opioids at low doses can help with arthritis but due to dependency and tolerance it is ineffective treatment. The major negative being the dependency and studied tolerance buildup that causes opioid treatment to be ineffective in the long run. Additionally, since most users use the medicine for 2+ years it is difficult to get off opioid medicine and Marijuana being an available option poses a safer remedy.

 

Key Quotations

“Others have recently summarized that there’s little evidence that opioids are more effective than other treatments for persistent pain that dependence and addiction are far more common than doctors and patients realize; and that doctors often prescribe a larger supply than necessary” (58)

 

“Doctors came to see long-term opioid prescribing for chronic non-cancer pain as routine treatment. They were much quicker to prescribe opioids than they had been in the past”

 

Borrowed Sources