{"id":5163,"date":"2023-01-30T04:20:52","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T12:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dispensaries.com\/blog\/?p=5163"},"modified":"2023-01-30T08:04:02","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T16:04:02","slug":"legal-cannabis-reduced-opioid-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dispensaries.com\/blog\/legal-cannabis-reduced-opioid-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Another Study Finds Connection Between Legal Cannabis and Reduced Opioid Use"},"content":{"rendered":"

The number of pharmacy-distributed orders for codeine dropped 26 percent in 10 states and Washington D.C. after marijuana became legal in those areas. It\u2019s the latest study to find a connection between legal cannabis and reduced opioid use.<\/p>\n

The research, published<\/a> in Health Economics, saw lower demand for codeine in states that implemented legalized recreational cannabis laws through 2019. The drop in codeine use accelerated the longer the laws were in place. In states where the laws had been in place for at least four years, pharmacy-based distribution of codeine fell up to 37 percent.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe find that recreational cannabis laws lead to a reduction in codeine dispensed at retail pharmacies. Among prescription opioids, codeine is particularly likely to be used non-medically,\u201d the researchers wrote. \u201cThus, the finding that RCLs appear to reduce codeine dispensing is potentially promising from a public health perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reducing Opioid Use Can Save Lives<\/h2>\n

The multi-institutional study was led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Cornell University. In a release about their work, researchers said the results of the study are promising for public health because opioids contribute to more than 10,000 deaths per year.<\/p>\n

\u201cA reduction in the misuse of opioids can save lives,\u201d lead study author Shyam Raman, a doctoral candidate at Cornell, said <\/a>in the release. \u201cOur research indicates that recreational cannabis laws substantially reduce distribution of codeine to pharmacies, an overlooked potential benefit to legalizing recreational cannabis use.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study took a unique approach, looking at the number of opioids shipped and disturbed by hospitals, pharmacies and other endpoint distributors. The study found a significant impact on pharmacy-distributed codeine, but minimal impact on distribution of codeine by hospitals. The study noted that hospitals typically have \u201cless permissive policies than pharmacies.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study also found minimal impact in any setting for distribution of other opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine.<\/p>\n

The Public Health Implications of the Study<\/h3>\n

Researchers said the connection between legal cannabis and reduced opioid use is especially important given the rampant abuse of codeine.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmong prescription opioids, codeine misuse is especially high. Our findings suggest recreational cannabis use may be a substitute for codeine misuse,\u201d Dr. Coleman Drake, an assistant professor of health policy and management at Pitt\u2019s School of Public Health, said in the news release.<\/p>\n

Dr,\u00a0 Johanna Catherine Maclean of George Mason University added that \u201cwhile all substances have some risks, cannabis use is arguably less harmful to health than the non-medical use of prescription opioids.\u201d<\/p>\n

The findings of the study echo those from earlier studies <\/a>that took different approaches but reached the same conclusion: there\u2019s a connection between legal cannabis and reduced opioid use. Others have found certain types of patients use fewer opioids when they have access to legal cannabis, including cancer patients<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A 2023 study finds a 26 percent drop in pharmacy-distributed codeine in 10 states and Washington D.C. after recreational cannabis became legal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":5164,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[1030,580,844,448,236],"yoast_head":"\nConnection Between Legal Cannabis and Reduced Opioid Use<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A 2023 study finds a 26 percent drop in pharmacy-distributed codeine in 10 states and Washington D.C. after cannabis became legal.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dispensaries.com\/blog\/legal-cannabis-reduced-opioid-use\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Connection 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