With researching many articles regarding chronic pain management, the quantitative work yielded extraordinary results, leaving it at the top of the evidence hierarchy. This well generalizable, exploratory, non-experimental, retrospective cross-sectional paper states the problem is that “prescription drug overdoses are the leading cause of accidental death in the United States (Reimann, Welty, & Solomon, 2017 p.160).” The author then goes into further detail to explain how opioids have killed more than 28,000 people in 2014 which is backed by the reputable Centers for Disease Control. The purpose of the study was clearly and concisely noted to “gather [information] about the use of cannabis as a substitute for opioid and nonopioid based pain …show more content…
The longitudinal study would have collected data multiple times over an extended period, making this a stronger study. Throughout the materials and methods, which included an instrument and sampling subtitle, the researchers note that they “utilized a cross-sectional survey to gather data about the use of cannabis as a substitute for opioid and nonopioid based pain medication” (Reimann, Welty, & Solomon, 2017 p.161). The survey they used was a modified version of Tilray Observational Patient Survey (TOPS).This was a patient reported outcome questionnaire using Likert scale type questions. This survey which was available to 67,422 participants in California via email for a total of 7 weeks covered demographics, why cannabis was being used, how it was being used, if it was used as a substitute for opioids, experiences with cannabis as a substitute to opioids and the efficacy of cannabis as compared to other pharmaceuticals when looking at side effects and stigma. These are all adequate points that needed to be covered when researching a subject like cannabis versus …show more content…
California is one of very few states that allows for the use of medicinal marijuana, therefore the external validity is hard to state as being well generalizable to the country as a whole. Selection bias was avoided by using a specific group with similar characteristics. The group was medical cannabis patients and the participants were asked questions about if they used cannabis as a substitute for opioid or non opioids to create a subset. The internal validity is protected by using only patients who use cannabis. There is only one independent variable in the study, , which minimizes the risk for confounding variable. The construct validity minimized biases by asking questions on whether they favor cannabis over opioids or vice versa. The answers to the questions range from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree” which allows for the study to have more accurate
The paper focus in the auto-report of relief when using marihuana as an alternative treatment to opioids. Despite the efforts to highlight the effectiveness of marihuana the methodology used to collect the data may lead to bias. For me, that is one of the study main weakness. The human brain produces its own chemicals to block the pain receptors when using opioids, the brain will cut the production of this chemicals, same will happen with marihuana. A clinical trial study could be the perfect fit to determine if marihuana is better than opioids. Drug-based treatment might not be the best option always to deal with pain, we need to teach people that pain sometimes is part of our
Multiple studies were examined to answer “Did passing the Compassionate Use Act prove effective in managing chronic pain?” The studies that were found via PubMed and Galileo used the terms in the following literary search: cannabis, marijuana, United States - California, and chronic pain to examine the evidence and efficacy of the Compassionate Use Act via data analysis of pain management and other nontraditional benefits before and after 1996. The articles were then reviewed by clinical trials, evidence-based practice, and
The purpose of the research is to determine the opinions of Californians about the issue of marijuana, both with respect to whether it should be legalized, and if so, how should such legalization be implemented.
"Have recent marijuana reform laws, specifically medical marijuana and legislation, increased or decreased crime rates?" and, "Do police officers attitudes and behaviors reflect the laws surrounding marijuana reform?" are some key topics of discussion. The independent variables in the first question relating to crime rates are marijuana and legislation, and the dependent variable is crime rate. The independent variables in the second question involving police officers were attitudes and behavior. The dependent variable is marijuana reform. The question that will be posed through the peer reviewed article is the recent marijuana reform laws in correlation to
When comparing the safety of marijuana and opioid painkillers like so many professional athletes use, it is no contest. From the drug problems that plagued Ryan Leaf’s entire playing career dating back to college to Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre’s stint in rehab, opioids have caused addiction and abuse by professional athletes (Thiersch 5). The abuse often leads to overdosing on the pain killers. Marijuana would help decrease the number of opioid users and in result, decrease the number of those who die from overdose. In 2010, over 16,000 people died due to overdosing on painkillers (Freeman 38). However, there are no deaths reported annually from marijuana usage. A smoker would theoretically have to consume nearly 1,500 pounds of marijuana within about fifteen minutes to overdose (Wing 4).
Living with pain is a daily struggle for many among us. We as a society push our bodies past the breaking point and live to tell the tale through opioid pain relievers. What did the many generations before opioids were created do, how was the pain relieved? That’s easy enough to answer they lived with it, or they didn’t. Medical and pharmaceutical interventions have come a long way in the treatment and management of pain, so much so that now we have run into another problem, the epidemic of opioid addiction and abuse. Out of this problem a far greater problem is being seen and that is the health risks associated with any drug used in a recreational form.
Since 2012, four states in the US have allowed sale of cannabis for recreational use by adults over the age of 21. (Colorado, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington State). Washington State legalized growing of cannabis for personal use and legalized it for gifting to friends. In 2016, more states are considering legalization and within the next 4-5 years, half of the state will at least most likely to have proposed a bill talking about decriminalization or even legalization. In the paper it discusses the probable effects that will come with legalization and also the possible effects, along it also talks about the legalization of cannabis and how it affects the use of alcohol, tobacco and opioids, which can tend to be a lot more dangerous that cannabis. Study Method. This report aimed to briefly describe the regulatory regimes so far implemented; outline their plausible effects on cannabis use and cannabis-related harm; and suggest what research is needed to evaluate the public health impact of these policy changes. It reviewed the drug policy literature to identify: (1) plausible effects of legalizing adult recreational use on cannabis price and availability; (2) factors that may increase or limit these effects; (3) pointers from studies of the effects of legalizing medical cannabis use; and (4) indicators of cannabis use and cannabis-related harm that can be monitored to assess the effects of these policy changes. Study Findings. Legalization of recreational use will
Chronic pain is a tremendous public health problem, and a costly one. As health care advances and the need for palliative care rises, patients and health care providers are constantly investigating alternative methods of pain treatment and management. Questioning and challenging traditional health policies and practices has created an interest in the use of cannabis as an alternative option to standard opioids, for the management of chronic pain. Cannabis, or marijuana, is a leafy green plant consisting of buds and leaves of the cannabis sativa forma indica plants. Marijuana has been used in holistic solutions for hundreds of years; it has also been especially prevalent among terminally ill cancer patients, who have been reported using it to alleviate symptoms like chronic pain, nausea and depression.
If you observe the opioid deaths in the United States, despite the severe rise in these deaths, thirteen states have actually experienced a drop in opioid related mortality rates. It just so happens these are also the states that have enacted medicinal marijuana laws. These states have experienced a 25% decrease in prescription painkiller deaths in which forty-six people die every day in the United States from this very type. In a country where opioid analgesics are responsible for more deaths than suicide or vehicular crashes, this drop may be the beginning of a pharmaceutical revolution.
“The survey was conducted with more than 1,500 doctors and nearly 3,000 consumers and concluded that 69 percent of the doctors said that Marijuana can help with certain conditions and treatments, while only 52 percent of consumers expressed the same belief. Among the 69 percent of doctors that said Marijuana can help treat patients with certain conditions, 67 percent said that they believed Marijuana should be a treatment option for patients. Half of the doctors surveyed in the states where Marijuana isn’t legal said it should be legalized, as did 52 percent of the doctors in the states considering such laws” (Preidt). The support for legalizing Marijuana, though, seemed to be highest among oncologists (cancer specialists) and hematologists (blood disorder specialists). Within these two groups, 82 percent said that Marijuana can provide numerous benefits to the patients (Preidt). According to the WebMD/Medscape survey, the same percentage said that Marijuana should be a treatment option for patients (WebMD). Another study done, that tried to prove how popular the drug actually is, proved that Marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the United States. The study was conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and established that about 97.8% of Americans have admitted to smoking Marijuana at some point in their lifetime, making it the most widely used
Chronic pain is intense suffering/agony that can persist between weeks to years. Currently, there are an estimated more than 3 million cases of chronic pain in the United States each year. That is where the Marijuana comes into play. An article on the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association states the following for Marijuana being used for chronic pain as well as other medical problems,”Aside from nausea and appetite stimulation, indications for which there are 2 FDA-approved cannabinoids (dronabinol and nabilone), chronic pain, neuropathic pain, and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis are the indications for medical marijuana supported by high-quality evidence”(Hill). As usual, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t state the drawbacks to using Marijuana to treat chronic pain. The same article states,”Medical marijuana and cannabinoids have significant potential health risks, such as addiction and worsening of psychiatric illnesses such as some anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance use disorders”(Hill). Currently, there are no ways to combatant these side
Amoran and Iyaniwura (2012) carried out an analytical cross-sectional study to assess the prevalence and determinants of preventive treatment of malaria methods of pregnant women in a rural town in Western Nigeria. A total of 225 pregnant women that were due for delivery at primary health care centers were recruited for a structured questionnaire. Slightly more than half of the women knew that malaria was associated with low birth weight and “60.4% of the respondents reported that they received some information on malaria prevention during pregnancy. Doctors and nurses were revealed to be the source of education for 68.9% of women” (Amoran & Iyaniwura, 2012) but for many, family, friends, and community organizations were also informative. The
Marijuana is a drug that divides people. Some people claim it as the wonder drug of the '90s, capable of relieving the symptoms of many serious illnesses. Others curse the day the cannabis plant was ever discovered. From pain relief to stimulating the appetites of patients on chemotherapy, marijuana seems to have plenty going for it as a medicine. The legalization of marijuana is a large controversy in many parts of the world today, but the obvious negative effects that the drug induces has kept it from being legalized. Many researchers have a strong positive attitude towards marijuana. It has been said that the drug is “worth investigating and even providing as a medicine for pain relief, severe
A likely reason as to why the results of this study were not significant is due to the relatively small sample size. Not all of the fifty states in the United States have yet to address the legalization of marijuana. Many of the states with the smallest liberal populations have not voted on the future of this issues in their state. In addition, many of the states with large numbers of conservatives in the sample used in this study are Western states. This is significant
Marijuana is illegal in fifty states because of its classification as an illicit drug, but controversial issues have been established that this “illicit drug” has improved the course of treatment for suffering patients. Marijuana has beneficial effects when used in medicinal scenarios for the treatment of pain; thus it should be an administered drug for patients who can benefit from the use of this drug. Marijuana has undergone analysis for its use as a medicine and the results have shown improvements in the patients who were treated with this drug. Doctors have expressed opposite opinions, making this issue very controversial.