Medical Marijuana And Opioid Use Disorder

Can Medical Marijuana Help Opioid Use Disorder?

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a serious medical condition that involves ongoing dependence on opioids, such as heroin and prescription painkillers. Opioids are highly dangerous drugs that can easily result in overdose, coma, and death if misused.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately 128 people in the U.S. die from opioid overdoses each day, and over 2 million Americans struggled with opioid addiction in 2017 alone.

While not an effective OUD treatment on its own, medical marijuana may help this crisis by easing withdrawal symptoms, reducing feelings of opioid pleasure and reward, and reducing overdose rates.

What Is Opioid Use Disorder?

Opioids produce feelings of euphoria and reduce feelings of pain. Using opioids over time leads to dependence and an increase in tolerance, which means that a person with OUD will need to take more of the drug to feel these effects over time. Common opioids include heroin, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine.

OUD occurs when a person experiences at least two of the following symptoms within a 12-month period:

• Strong desires to use opioids
• Unsuccessful efforts to reduce opioid use
• Taking larger amounts of opioids or taking opioids for a longer period than intended
• Avoiding activities to use opioids
• Increased tolerance
• Increased tolerance
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms
• Inability to fulfill responsibilities due to opioids
• Difficulty with relationships due to opioid use

If you develop OUD, you can experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using opioids, even for a short period of time. These symptoms can be very unpleasant, including pain, chills, diarrhea, insomnia, and severe nausea.

Professional treatment is necessary to overcome withdrawal symptoms and recover from OUD — and research shows that medical marijuana may help.