Practical implications of cannabis as an alternative to opioids in pain management
Park, Miso (2020)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020112023453
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020112023453
Tiivistelmä
Background: Prescription opioid use has been growing in many countries around the globe. The growth of opioid use, however, has not come without side-effects. Substance dependency, abuse and even death from opioid overdose are emerging concerns that have not so far been addressed sufficiently. At the same time more and more countries are decriminalizing cannabis and approving its use for pain management. Patients are seeking help from cannabis for various medical conditions and anecdotal evidence from patients’ self-report rather than scientific evidence begs a question as to whether cannabis could serve as pain medication and be an alternative to prescription opioids.
Objective: To investigate existing scientific literature of cannabis use along with opioids and its effects to fathom its validity as an alternative to opioids.
Methods: Scoping literature review of publication concerning the use of medical cannabis in pain treatment along with or as substitute for opioids.
Results: 11 out of 13 studies reviewed observed varying degrees of pain relief using cannabis over opioids under certain specific conditions. Reduction in opioid consumption was observed in five studies while one study saw no significant impact on opioid consumption.
Conclusions: There appears to be some benefits in certain situations however cannabis certainly does not appear to be a drop-in replacement for opioids in chronic pain management. More research is required to determine accurately the conditions and types of pain that cannabis can efficiently manage. It is important to understand as a nurse how cannabis works and provide guidance to patients if they encounter such patients.
Objective: To investigate existing scientific literature of cannabis use along with opioids and its effects to fathom its validity as an alternative to opioids.
Methods: Scoping literature review of publication concerning the use of medical cannabis in pain treatment along with or as substitute for opioids.
Results: 11 out of 13 studies reviewed observed varying degrees of pain relief using cannabis over opioids under certain specific conditions. Reduction in opioid consumption was observed in five studies while one study saw no significant impact on opioid consumption.
Conclusions: There appears to be some benefits in certain situations however cannabis certainly does not appear to be a drop-in replacement for opioids in chronic pain management. More research is required to determine accurately the conditions and types of pain that cannabis can efficiently manage. It is important to understand as a nurse how cannabis works and provide guidance to patients if they encounter such patients.