The substitution of medication with Cannabis
At a time when cannabis consumption is being legalized around the world, a phenomenon is observed among chronically ill people: the substitution of prescribed drug treatments with cannabis.
Cannabis inspires confidence in patientsâŠ
Cannabis is becoming more widespread. Its image is smoothing out as mentalities evolve. In the United States, in some states, it is already part of treatment and pain management protocols, whether as a supplement or even a substitute for ordinary drug treatments. A researcher at the University of Michigan became interested in this issue and made an observation: many patients substitute their medication with cannabis.
A rigorous, pragmatic, and fact-based approach is necessary to develop guidelines and practices associated with medical cannabis, given the importance of societal and public health stakes. The study published in January 2019 is attributed to Daniel Kruger of the U-M Institute for Social Research.
The aim of this study was to observe attitudes towards medical cannabis, its use, and the general healthcare system among medical cannabis consumers. The research team conducted a series of surveys on a panel of 392 adults; the subjects also attended an annual public event advocating for cannabis law reform. Another detail: all 392 participants suffered from various health problems. What did they find? "Users of medical cannabis reported having more confidence in cannabis than in conventional medications," communicated researchers from the Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan.
In perspective and direct comparison with pharmaceutical drugs, medical cannabis consumers rated cannabis as "better" in terms of efficacy, side effects, safety, dependence, availability, and cost.
⊠and sometimes replaces medication.
Among the 392 responses collected, 78% admitted to having used or still using marijuana to treat a health problem. The main lesson to be drawn from this study is that users have more confidence in medical cannabis, as opposed to traditional medicines. The panel justifies this position by better results obtained according to criteria of efficacy, side effects, availability, and cost.
When taking medical cannabis, 42% of the panel reported stopping a pharmaceutical drug treatment, while 38% reported using less of it afterwards. It should also be noted that 30% of respondents said their treating physician was unaware of their medical cannabis use.
"This study advances knowledge in a fact-based approach to harm reduction and promotion of benefits in medical cannabis," Daniel Kruger welcomed. He continued: "Given the growing use of medical cannabis and widespread recreational use despite criminalization, the current public health framework focused primarily on cannabis abstinence seems obsolete."
