A recent study by researchers from the Bastyr University Research Institute found that adults often substitute cannabis for the use of prescription medications. The study was published in the Journal of Pain Research.
The study notes that the use of medical cannabis is increasing, most commonly for pain, anxiety and depression. Emerging data suggest that use and abuse of prescription drugs may be decreasing in states where medical cannabis is legal. The aim of the study was to survey cannabis users to determine whether they had intentionally substituted cannabis for prescription drugs.
A total of 2,774 individuals were a self-selected convenience sample who reported having used cannabis at least once in the previous 90 days. A total of 1,248 (46%) respondents reported using cannabis as a substitute for prescription drugs. The most common classes of drugs substituted were narcotics/opioids (35.8%), anxiolytics/ benzodiazepines (13.6%) and antidepressants (12.7%).
These patient-reported outcomes support prior research that individuals are using cannabis as a substitute for prescription drugs, particularly, narcotics/opioids, and independent of whether they identify themselves as medical or non-medical users. This is especially true if they suffer from pain, anxiety and depression.
See the full report – Cannabis as a Substitute for Prescription Drugs.