Can cannabis, with its special analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, be a substitute for opioids? Can these intrusive drugs with powerful side effects be totally replaced?
Cannabis and its effects as an alternative to opioids
Cannabis has important analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, without any particular side effects, as it is a totally natural product. Opioids, on the contrary, have intrusive side effects and can easily become addictive; deaths caused by opioids number in the thousands every year.
Opioids, allies and enemies of the human body
Opioids are a class of painkiller drugs, derived from the poppy and its variants, both synthetic and semi-synthetic. There are many drugs that fall into this category, the best known of which are codeine, hydromorphone, meperidine, morphine, oxycodone and pentazocine. They are particularly useful and effective against intense and chronic pain, as well as cancer pain. Unfortunately, they have many side effects and it is very common to become dependent on them. Because of their many ‘cons’ they should only be taken after a medical consultation.
What are the side effects of opioids
- tiredness and sleepiness;
- nausea and vomiting;
- constipation;
- itching sensation;
- hot flashes (particularly in the face);
- euphoria;
- confusion (particularly in weaker and elderly patients);
- convulsions;
- serotonergic syndrome (characterised by tremors, spasms, agitation, excessive sweating, hyperthermia and confusional state), when taken together with other drugs;
- habituation;
- addiction, with risk of overdose and respiratory arrest.
Why cannabis is a viable alternative
According to a study published in July 2023 on the website of the National Library of Medicine, opioid abuse affects more than 16 million people, causing the death of more than 120,000 each year. Impressive numbers, for what should be a medical support, but too often turns into a real enemy of those who use it. The United States is among the places in the world most affected by these deaths. According to a report published by The Lancet, from 1999 to 2020, deaths caused by opioids (prescription and non-prescription) increased more than eightfold, resulting in the death of more than 550,000 people over 21 years. According to the same report, deaths could exceed 1.2 million by 2029 if countermeasures are not taken as soon as possible.
These drugs, which are easy to obtain and initially prescribed by doctors and hospitals, create an increasing tolerance in the patient, who consequently requires more of the drug in order to benefit from it. This is one of the problems behind what can be described as a worldwide epidemic.
Cannabis, with its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, is a healthier and totally natural alternative. The plant and its derivatives can be used to treat pain, reducing the risk of addiction and eliminating the risk of overdose. More and more studies are being conducted in favour of cannabis for medical use. Thanks to the introduction of cannabis for medical use in the United States, opioid overdose deaths are decreasing year by year, reaching almost a 35% decrease. According to a 2019 article in the journal Economic Inquiry, “The Effects of recreational marijuana legalisation and dispensing on opioid mortality“, legal access to cannabis in the United States has greatly decreased deaths in regular opioid users. Although cannabis is often for recreational use, this ‘self-treatment’ relieves pain by making opioids less essential. The connection between legal cannabis and the decrease in opioid overdose deaths has been particularly strong and firm.
Studies and the replacement of opioids with cannabis
There are numerous studies in favour of completely replacing opioids with cannabis. In a 2017 study, 97% of the patients involved drastically reduced their opioid use through cannabis-based therapy, while 81% said that medical cannabis was more effective against pain treatment. Similar percentages were found among patients using non-opioid medications. Cannabis thus appears to be an ally in combating all kinds of pain.
A 2021 study looked at who has or has not discontinued medical treatment. 38% discontinued it completely, while 46% drastically reduced their use. At the same time, 66% said they recognised cannabis as a more effective solution, while 85% confirmed that they had suffered worse side effects during their previous opioid use.
Cannabis as a health ally
It appears that cannabis can contribute to improving the quality of life of patients, while reducing cases of opioid dependence worldwide. Due to its excellent analgesic and anti-inflammatory qualities and almost complete absence of side effects, cannabis can be an important ally in the treatment of pain in patients, including cancer patients.
In a recent interview with Science Daily, Michelle St. Pierre, PhD, who led the study at British Columbia, emphasised that prolonged treatment with cannabis does not lead to an altered perception of pain, as opioid-based treatment does. Altered perception of pain is at the root of increased and prolonged use of opioid-based drugs, and eliminating this side effect may help avoid unnecessarily prolonged pain treatment.
