Yale Experts Say Cannabis Could Help Solve Opioid Overdose Crisis In The US

Cannabis could offer solutions to the opioid overdose crisis in the U.S., experts from Yale School of Medicine assert. 

João P. De Aquino, assistant professor of psychiatry and medical student Gabriel P. A. Costa say the role of cannabis in opioid use disorder treatment needs to be looked at seriously.

“We have failed to thoroughly investigate the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids while disqualifying people from opioid treatment programs based on its use,” they wrote in Springer Nature Scientific American. “This shortsighted policy potentially blocks thousands of individuals from receiving care—and overlooks the possibility that some constituents of cannabis may have therapeutic benefit. To address the opioid crisis, it is essential to reassess our stance on cannabis to ensure more inclusive and effective treatment approaches, as well as to rigorously assess risks and benefits in a balanced manner.”

Misconception: Cannabis As A Barrier To Treatment

The opinion piece recognizes that the U.S. faces a severe overdose epidemic driven by opioids like fentanyl and heroin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 81,000 opioid-related overdose deaths last year only. Despite millions suffering from opioid use disorder, most do not receive treatment. One significant barrier is the restriction on cannabis use for potential patients.

One problem is that many opioid use disorder treatment programs require patients to abstain from cannabis. “We have failed to thoroughly investigate the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids while disqualifying people from opioid treatment programs based on its use,” the authors say.

Read Also: Overdose Crisis Worsens: The Rise Of Fentanyl Smoking Leads To Even More Deaths Than Shooting Heroin

Changing Attitudes And Policies

Over the past decade, U.S. attitudes toward cannabis have shifted dramatically. Thirty-eight states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical cannabis, with many states also allowing recreational use. Also, the Biden administration’s recommendation to reclassify cannabis could have an impact on its medical use nationwide.

However, these evolving policies clash with traditional opioid use disorder treatments. The authors note that many scientific studies are shifting the way we understand opioid use disorder treatments. For instance, recent findings indicate that cannabis provides similar pain relief benefits as opioids, but without negative consequences. Also, that it can help reduce unregulated opioid use, thus diminishing the impact of the crisis.

And a systematic review by De Aquino and Costa found no significant link between cannabis use and a return to non-medical opioid use among those in treatment.

These findings suggest the need to reevaluate the role of cannabis in recovery and take action, as rescheduling will could make it easier for physicians to use cannabis as part of an addiction treatment plan.

Read Next: Cannabis Can Help Reduce Unregulated Opioid Use And Manage Cravings, Study Finds

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