Study Shows Lower Opioid Deaths in States that Legalizes Marijuana
New research shows that states and counties that have legalized marijuana use report lower opioid-related deaths. Opioids are popular drugs in the same class as heroin and synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and pain relievers like morphine, codeine, and oxycodone. With the study or research design, researchers can't link medical marijuana dispensaries to lower opioid-related morbidities.
The counties allowing legal marijuana use recorded lower opioid-related deaths (including synthetic opioids) than the other states between 2014 and 2018. It’s evident in a certain study that experts published in the BMJ.
In the last year of the study, approximately 46802 deaths in the U.S. resulted from an opioid overdose. The Disease control and prevention (CDC) reveals that two-thirds of the cases result from a synthetic opioid like fentanyl.
Recent statistics show that the COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation. The number of opioid deaths increased by more than 8 percent in June 2019.
Nevertheless, the latest study has various limitations, like the population level, ecology, and cannabis studies. Thus, the researchers might be using outdated data for analysis.
The Potential Link between Opioids Deaths and Marijuana Use
In a certain study, the researchers focused on data from 812 counties in the 23 states with legal marijuana dispensaries at the end of 2017. The researchers combined the data during the study with opioid-related morbidity cases in the same counties.
Physicians prescribe these drugs to relieve acute or chronic pain. With less evidence of the drug’s suitability for long-term usage, most individuals may end up misusing them during long-term usage.
The study found lower opioid-related deaths in counter with legal marijuana dispensaries. From the findings, the increase in dispensaries in the particular counties resulted in a 17% drop in opioid-related morbidities. The authors insisted that the result was for states with recreational and medical dispensaries.
Remember, the association was stronger for synthetic opioids. The data showed that increasing the number of dispensaries by one reduced the number of synthetic opioid deaths by 21%.
The scientists considered other issues during the study, such as the county's average income levels, unemployment rates, and men's population. These were the main factors influencing opioid use.
Nevertheless, the study didn't allow direct associations of lower opioid-related deaths to the marijuana dispensaries. Some experts reveal that the study’s strength was that the researchers used more fine-grained data from the county level.
Despite the successes, the research still has some limitations, like other ecological marijuana studies. For instance, the study doesn’t reveal whether individuals consuming marijuana use fewer opioids, stopped using, or aren’t dying from the prescriptions. Furthermore, the research didn’t consider the prevalence of opioids, especially synthetic opioids, in the given counties.
Remember, the study focuses on more counties on the West coast. These states recorded lower synthetic opioid use in 2008. The limited research time makes it hard to understand the current situation.
It’s possible to find different results if you were to carry out the study using the current data. There has been a shift in marijuana dispensaries and opioid morbidity.
There is a need for more Comprehensive Marijuana Research
Based on the study, it's not easy to say that making Marijuana legal and easily accessible will reduce opioid-related morbidities. When someone uses Marijuana instead of prescription opioids to alleviate severe pain, it reduces the dependence on opioids and transitions to synthetic opioids or heroin.
Despite the good results, there is no sufficient evidence to support the transition. Experts agree on the existence of limitations to these population-based studies.
Cannabis plays a potential role in reducing opioid use. Nevertheless, most studies in this area are usually ecological, making it hard to understand the results at a patient level.
Importantly, Marijuana provides individuals with severe pain a better alternative to opioids. With the huge possibility of misusing opioids, most physicians restrict prescribing opioids. Many individuals with chronic pain find it difficult to get opioids to alleviate their pain.
Understanding how Marijuana works for severe pains involves rigorous studies on a particular patient. However, researchers find it hard to carry out these studies.
While more states approve recreational or medical marijuana use, the federal state still classifies Marijuana or cannabis as a Schedule I drug or substance. Thus, there are numerous restrictions on research or studies on the herb.
Nevertheless, a professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine has individual patient-based research projects. These projects focus on marijuana use in individuals with severe pain. The professors reveal that due to numerous legal concerns and issues, Marijuana as a Schedule I drug made her wait for more than years to get approval for the study.
Furthermore, the ecological study may distract the participants from other tasks. These tasks may help reduce opioid-related morbidities in individuals with opioid use disorders.
Experts also believe the time individuals talk about opening marijuana dispensaries to prevent fentanyl overdoses might be vital to make other reforms, including providing support services, expanding the use of naloxone, improving housing access, and reforming criminal justice reentry.
Does Legalizing Marijuana helps Many Individuals to Opt-Out of Medications
Reports show that legalizing Marijuana federally and expanding its access in the United States' illegal states will help reduce over-the-counter and prescription drug sales by billions of dollars.
This estimate is based on the significant changes in the market after some states legalized recreational or medical Marijuana use. Researchers reported a significant shift in the stock market, which showed the reflection of investor predictions.
Many citizens consider Marijuana an alternative to alleviate various health conditions like insomnia, chronic pain, etc. However, most consumers will only switch from pharmaceutical drugs after the state declares Marijuana legal.
Drop in the Prescription Drug Spending
In a study that researchers published in the Plus One journal, researchers examined the different stock market returns of more than 500 pharmaceutical companies from 1996 to 2019.
The study focused on the changes in returns occurring before and after marijuana legalization. The researchers then compared this data to the estimated returns when Marijuana was still illegal.
The researchers found an increase of 2% in the returns less than ten days after marijuana legalization compared to before the legalization. The results revealed that each company lost approximately $133 million to $177 million in the stock market. Thus, each time local states legalized medical marijuana use, there was an average drop of $2.4 billion in annual pharmaceutical drug sales.
Research shows an even larger drop in sales after states legalize adult recreational cannabis. Legalizing recreational Marijuana affected huge drugmakers and brand names more than generic drugmakers. The changes hit brand names hard due to the larger market share of manufacturers.
With these results, researchers estimate a drop of approximately 10.8% or $38.4 billion in pharmaceutical sales if the state were to legalize medical marijuana use. The drop affected both over-the-counter and prescription medications.
During the study, only 16 states didn’t have legal marijuana access. Currently, 37 states, including D.C., have legalized medical marijuana use. An additional 19 states plus D.C. legalize recreational marijuana use.
Besides getting valuable findings, this study has various limitations. It only included popularly-trading companies, which made the results underestimate the legalization of Marijuana on the total pharmaceutical sales. Furthermore, some events during legalization may also affect the stock market returns.
The Response from the Pharmaceutical industry
The study’s findings showed that expanded marijuana legalization in the country led to lower revenue in the pharmaceutical industry. With the statistics, the pharmaceutical industry may be aware of the revenue risk it faces due to marijuana use legalization.
For example, the Washington Post reveals that some companies have channeled funds to lobby federal agencies, academic researchers, and anti-marijuana groups to oppose medical and recreational marijuana legalization. Some companies try to cash in on the health benefits of Marijuana.
Pfizer(a drug maker) invested $6.7 billion in a cannabinoid biotech company the previous year. Remember, the 10.8% sales drop the research shows may be insurmountable for this industry.
In 2019, a certain nonprofit and nonpartisan organization (West Health Policy Center) estimated that huge drug makers face an 11% drop in sales and profit. However, these companies will still have a more effective and profitable investment return.
Marijuana Offers a Better Alternative to Prescription Drugs
More studies show that individuals are switching to medical Marijuana to alleviate their health issues.
For example, in a study in Health Economics, it's evident that legalizing Marijuana reduced the demand for some predicted drugs between 2011 and 2019.
The research was focused on prescription medications for sleep, anxiety, seizures, psychosis, sleep, depression, and pains. These were drugs for which medical Marijuana could be a viable alternative.
The study found a 9% to 13% reduction in the use of these drugs among Medicaid populations in states with legal recreational marijuana use.
Additionally, in 2017 a Health Affairs study reported the same decrease in the number of Medicaid enrollees consuming various prescription drugs in states with legal, medical marijuana use.
These studies were based on the entire drug spending or sales after marijuana legalization. However, other research focused on how patients respond to accessing Marijuana legally.
Can Marijuana Curb Opioid Use
Last year a Pain Medicine study found a decrease in prescription opioid use among Canadian medical marijuana patients. The results drop from 28% to 11% during the six-month study period.
Most of the participants were using the drugs to alleviate severe pain. However, some have headaches, insomnia, arthritis, anxiety, and other conditions.
Besides the drop in prescription opioid use, there was a decrease in the patients using antidepressants, non-opioid pain medications, benzodiazepine, and anti-seizure medications.
Furthermore, the study shows ever-increasing research suggesting that after incorporating Marijuana into routine care, most patients reduce their dependence on prescription medications. Besides reducing prescription medication use, the patients may also reduce the consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and other substances.
These studies come at a time when the U.S. and Canada are fighting the opioid crisis. The Department of Health and Human Services reported 42000 opioid overdose deaths in 2016, with 40% resulting from prescription opioids.
Evidence reveals that Marijuana may be a safer alternative to opioids for most patients, especially those with chronic pain. Using Marijuana improves overall safety and public health and can save lives.
Most studies show a decrease in prescription drug use among medical marijuana users. With Marijuana enhancing psychological and physical health, it helps to increase the quality of life.
Talk to Your Physician About Marijuana Use
Research shows the effectiveness of marijuana use in alleviating severe pain, insomnia, and other health conditions. Due to the fewer adverse effects, experts consider it a better and safer alternative to prescription drugs.
However, experts are concerned about the number of individuals who may discontinue their medications for cannabis after legalization or marijuana use.
Thus, talking to your physician about using Marijuana for recreation or managing certain conditions will be important. It's a vital step before thinking of discontinuing your regular medication. During the consultation, you can discuss various things about the drug and your move.
However, physicians require more training to have a well-versed conversation. Physicians need additional education or knowledge on the negative and positive effects of using medical Marijuana.
Takeaway
Various research reveals that the federal government legalizing Marijuana could result in a drop in pharmaceutical industry sales.
Despite the effect on the pharmaceutical industry sales, legalizing Marijuana will provide an alternative to prescription medications and help deal with the current opioid crisis.
As the states continue expanding and implementing marijuana legalization policies, it'll be wise for individuals relating to prescription medication to consult their physician. It's very important to consult your doctor before supplementing or replacing your medications with Marijuana.
Communicating with your physician will help you have or incorporate Marijuana into your treatment plan. Besides having a treatment plan with Marijuana, the physicians will include that you have marijuana self-medication in your medical history.
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