Study Explores Holistic Effects Of Medical Cannabis Versus Opioids On Chronic Pain Management

A recent study, spearheaded by Professor Jussi Jylkkä and a team of researchers from Åbo Akademi University delved into the holistic effects of medical cannabis and opioids on chronic pain, providing valuable insights into their efficacy.

The study, recently published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, seeks to address the growing interest in understanding the comprehensive impact of these treatments.

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About The Study

As the use of medical cannabis for chronic pain management continues its ascent, questions about its efficacy compared to traditional opioids have become increasingly pertinent. To fill the void left by a lack of systematic testing on the hypothesis that medical cannabis may holistically influence the pain experience, the researchers embarked on a journey within the digital realms of a retrospective internet survey among Finnish chronic pain patients.

Methodology 

A sample of 201 chronic pain patients, comprising 40 medical cannabis users and 161 relying on opioids, became the focal point of the study. Participants were tasked with evaluating statements detailing the positive and negative effects of their prescribed medications. The researchers, keenly aware of potential confounding factors, employed propensity score matching to navigate the intricacies of the two treatment groups.

Key Findings

• The study revealed a triad of distinct experience factors: 'Negative Side Effects', 'Positive Holistic Effects', and 'Positive Emotional Effects'.
• Notably, in the matched groups, medical cannabis users consistently reported higher scores in Positive Emotional Effects, showcasing a substantial effect size. As reported by Marijuana Moment, there were no indications that medical cannabis distorted cognitive processes; instead, it was perceived to enhance memory, focus, and clarity of thought, researchers said.

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The study suggests that while medical cannabis and opioids were perceived as equally effective in mitigating pain intensity, medical cannabis uniquely contributed to broader pain-related factors such as emotion, functionality and overall well-being.

The authors concluded that the psychoactive effects of medical cannabis were pivotal to its therapeutic impact, clarifying that "psychoactive" in this context referred to a holistic alteration of consciousness towards a more positive direction or "normality."

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