Medical Marijuana Could Reduce Opioid Use in Older Adults

A study to be presented at the American Geriatrics Society's annual meeting indicates medical marijuana significantly reduced pain and the need for opioid painkillers among older adults in chronic pain, reports Medical Xpress . The team polled 138 medical marijuana users with a survey focusing on how frequently they used the marijuana, in what form they took it, how much it reduced pain, and whether or not they were able to cut their use of other painkillers. Eighteen percent of marijuana-using respondents said they were able to decrease their painkiller use "moderately," 20 percent "extremely," and 27 percent "completely." Meanwhile, 91 percent said they would recommend medical marijuana to others. These subjects had been living with chronic pain from osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis, hips and knees that could not be replaced, and pain that steroid injection could not ease, according to study co-author Diana Martins-Welch in the Department of Medicine at Northwell Health. "What I'm seeing in my practice, and what I'm hearing from other providers who are participating in medical marijuana programs, is that their recipients are using less opioids," she notes. "I've even gotten some recipients completely off opioids." Martins-Welch thinks medical marijuana should be more widely available and easier to obtain, as the drug is legal in only 30 states. Furthermore, since marijuana is federally outlawed it is expensive and not covered by insurance, making it unattainable for many potential beneficiaries.