Can Cannabis Work as a Replacement for Opioids?

Opium is a plant that contains opioids that block opioid receptors to lessen pain whereas Cannabis is a plant that contains cannabinoids that act on cannabinoid receptors to provide a variety of effects. Cannabis and opioids both come from the same kind of plant. There is a myth that naturally produced, opioids are fully safe to consume.

Patients who require pain treatment, whether chronic or acute, frequently receive prescriptions for opioids, but they may not be aware that the opioids they are going to take are probably synthetic. The lethal side effects of opiate addiction have been taking lives for decades, and they have lately become more prevalent. Therefore it is the best time ever to think about alternatives like medicinal cannabis.

Is Cannabis Curative?

Cannabis treatment for neuropathic pain is backed by encouraging studies. Also, there could be advantages for chronic pain, especially nerve and neuropathic pain.

These studies revealed that THC, even in very little doses, significantly alleviated chronic neuropathic pain. Yet when breathed as opposed to administered orally, it functioned better. Nonetheless, inhalation was more effective than oral administration.

Adults who had been dependent on opioids for severe pain for ten years were the focus of one research from 2020. Half of the people who used cannabis were able to completely quit using opioids. A third turned away from them. Patients have said that they choose cannabis-based medicines over opioids due to:

-Less negative withdrawal symptoms

-More easily accessible

-Improved outcomes

-Less serious side effects

Cannabis or Opioids: Which one is more or less addictive?

Cannabis can lead to dependence in frequent users, but it is less habit-forming than opioids. Regular use of both cannabis and/or opioids can result in tolerance, and stopping usage of either can result in negative effects. Substance use disorders can result from abusing either too much. Disorders related to cannabis consumption are rare. Fewer than 10% of cannabis users will ever have this condition.

The best method to utilize cannabis to treat addiction is as a preventive or supplementary treatment. Opioids are a major contributor to drug addiction statistics and frequently cause fatal overdoses. And for the record, cannabis cannot overdose physically. It’s possible that using cannabis to treat pain will stop people from becoming addicted to opioids in the first place.

Many addictions may be traced back to the use of painkillers. By removing the necessity for opioid usage in the first place, the use of cannabis as a pain reliever may help to lower the number of addictions. Cannabis can assist regulate impulse control, ease anxiety and depression, and lessen the severity of physical side effects such as nausea, discomfort, and appetite loss when used to treat addiction, dependency, or withdrawal.

Why Cannabis is Favoured for Pain Treatment Over Opioids?

Cannabis is recommended over opioid treatment for pain management because it allows patients to experience pain relief without running the significant risk of addiction associated with opiate use. In other words, cannabis is preferred over opioids because :

(1) The danger of addiction is far lower, especially when long-term pain relief is required.

(2) There are fewer hazards and adverse effects. Cannabis has never been overdosed on.

In the United States, medical marijuana usage is expanding in popularity and accessibility, which may contribute to a decrease in the number of opioid overdose deaths brought on by substance misuse and addiction. To benefit from medicinal marijuana, get a medical marijuana card and speak with a state-registered healthcare professional before using it.

To Sum It All Up

As you can see, cannabis is a good choice if you want to manage your pain without turning to prescribed painkillers. Medical marijuana regulations and training for healthcare professionals will soon catch up with the public’s evolving attitudes about the drug. There is proof that patients can take advantage of medicinal marijuana’s stress-relieving benefits in addition to its ability to relieve pain.

Cannabis may be a better option than opioid drugs for treating chronic pain, according to a preliminary study. When compared to opioids, cannabis may have fewer hazards and side effects, but it also carries some significant risks of its own. There is a need for larger research and more long-term data. Be careful to go through the exact risks and advantages with your healthcare practitioner.