Deaths due to opioid overdose continues to rise to the point that opioid use is now considered an epidemic. Since opioids are the common prescribed drug to treat chronic pain, there is a need to consider safer alternate treatments. This integrated literature review was conducted to examine if cannabis can effectively treat pain, improve quality of life, and reduce the need for opioids to manage chronic pain.
Nine studies were included in this review. All nine studies reported the effectiveness of cannabis in either pain management, decreased opioid use and/or improved quality of life. Because consideration of the medicinal uses of cannabis is new, eight of the nine studies included less than a one-year follow up. However, the results of the studies reveal that cannabis should be considered for more than recreational uses and that its medicinal uses date back for thousands of years. To fully understand all the benefits and potential side effects surrounding cannabis, further research is needed. For further research to be conclusive, it is necessary for regulatory barriers and campaigns to reduce stigmas surrounding cannabis to be at the forefront. Deaths related to opioid overdose is in upward of 4 million people worldwide, including prescribed and illegal use compared to the absence of deaths related to cannabis overdose, a powerful indicator that cannabis may be the solution to help the millions of persons who suffer from chronic pain.
Table of Contents
1. Abstract
2. The Effect of using Cannabis with or instead of Opioids on the Quality of Life in Patients Suffering with Chronic Pain
2.1 Background and Significance
3. Method
4. Search Results
5. Integrated Findings
6. Themes
6.1 Pain Management
6.2 Opioid Reduction
6.3 Quality of Life (sleep and social functioning)
7. Limitations of Evidence
8. Recommendations
9. Conclusion
10. Appendix A
Research Objectives and Core Topics
This literature review investigates whether cannabis serves as an effective, safer alternative or adjunct to opioids for managing chronic pain, focusing on its impact on pain levels, opioid dependency, and overall quality of life. The study synthesizes findings from nine research articles to assess clinical efficacy and identify potential therapeutic benefits.
- Efficacy of cannabis in chronic pain management
- Reduction of opioid dependency through cannabis use
- Improvement in sleep quality and social functioning
- Clinical safety and medicinal applications of cannabinoids
- Barriers to research, including regulatory status and social stigma
Excerpt from the Publication
Pain Management
Eight of nine studies including 3781 participants reported the effect of cannabis on the management of chronic pain. All eight studies reported results indicating pain reduction when cannabis was added to their pain management plan. Two studies utilized the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form a nine-question survey utilizing a (0 least pain -10 most pain) Likert Scale to indicate the degree in which pain effects the participants life as well as rating the degree of pain itself; (Haroutounion et al., 2016; and Narong et al., 2008) with significant pain reduction in their respective 200 participants, with significance ranging from p<0.001 to p<0.01.
Two studies utilized a Numeric Rating Scale reporting significant pain improvement in their 243 participants (Johnson et al., 2010; and Vigil et al., 2017) The Vigil et al., (2017) reported significant mean pain reduction from baseline to post study of 3.4 points p<0.001. Haroutouunion et al., (2016) utilized both the BPI and the S-TOPS tools for measurements of pain baseline and at study completion. The remaining studies used a variety of tools to determine pain levels pre- and post-study. Two studies were case studies although with lower levels of evidence report one subject (Reynold, D. & Osborn, H., 2013) and three subjects (Lynch, P., 2012) success in reducing pain levels when introducing cannabis to the participants medication regime.
Summary of Chapters
Abstract: Provides a high-level overview of the opioid epidemic and the potential for cannabis as a safer medical alternative.
The Effect of using Cannabis with or instead of Opioids on the Quality of Life in Patients Suffering with Chronic Pain: Outlines the scope of chronic pain and the medical history and controversy surrounding cannabis usage.
Background and Significance: Discusses the statistical impact of the opioid epidemic on public health and the economic burden of chronic pain management.
Method: Details the search strategies and inclusion/exclusion criteria used to select the nine studies analyzed in this review.
Search Results: Describes the selection process from an initial pool of 49 articles down to the final nine relevant case studies and trials.
Integrated Findings: Summarizes the aggregate participant data and the variety of cannabis administration methods identified in the literature.
Themes: Introduces the three core thematic areas evaluated across the studies: pain management, opioid reduction, and quality of life.
Pain Management: Examines clinical data on pain reduction and the use of standardized measuring tools like the Brief Pain Inventory.
Opioid Reduction: Analyzes the transition from opioid-based therapy to cannabis-assisted treatment and the resulting reduction in dosages.
Quality of Life (sleep and social functioning): Evaluates how cannabis therapy influences patient well-being, specifically regarding sleep patterns and daily social interactions.
Limitations of Evidence: Identifies gaps in current research, such as short study durations and varied measurement methodologies.
Recommendations: Suggests future research priorities, including legislative changes and standardized clinical protocols.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the evidence suggesting that cannabis shows promise for pain management while noting that further longitudinal research is required.
Appendix A: Presents detailed evidence evaluation tables for all nine included studies.
Keywords
cannabis, medical marijuana, quality of life, pain management, chronic pain, sleep quality, opioid reduction, clinical research, cannabinoid, opioid epidemic, patient outcomes, pain relief, medication regime, safety evaluation, pharmacological treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
This paper is a literature review that investigates the efficacy of using cannabis as a therapeutic intervention for patients suffering from chronic pain, particularly as an alternative or complement to opioid medications.
What are the core thematic areas discussed in the review?
The work focuses on three primary themes: the effectiveness of cannabis in pain management, the reduction of opioid dependency, and improvements in the overall quality of life, including sleep and social functioning.
What is the central research question?
The study aims to determine whether incorporating cannabis into a treatment plan for chronic pain can effectively reduce pain levels, lower the reliance on dangerous opioids, and improve the patient's quality of life.
Which scientific methodology was employed?
The author conducted an integrated literature review, systematically searching multiple academic databases (such as CINAHL-Plus, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO) to identify relevant clinical studies published between 1999 and 2018.
What is covered in the main section of the paper?
The main section analyzes clinical findings from nine selected studies, detailing participant outcomes, administration methods, and specific results related to pain relief and opioid cessation.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The most important keywords include cannabis, medical marijuana, quality of life, pain management, chronic pain, sleep quality, and opioid reduction.
How did researchers measure quality of life in these studies?
Most studies utilized standardized surveys, such as the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), the RAND SF-36 health survey, and the MOS Sleep Scale, to quantify improvements in functional status, pain interference, and sleep adequacy.
What do the findings suggest about opioid reduction?
The evidence indicates that many chronic pain patients are able to significantly reduce or completely cease their opioid use when cannabis is introduced as part of their treatment regime, potentially mitigating the risks of overdose.
Does the paper address the long-term safety of cannabis?
The paper highlights a limitation in current evidence, noting that most studies had follow-up periods of less than one year, and emphasizes the need for further research into long-term safety and side effects.
How does regulatory status impact the research?
The author argues that the classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance creates significant regulatory and stigma-related barriers that impede conclusive, large-scale clinical research.
- Citation du texte
- Kim Stewart (Auteur), 2018, Medical Marijuana as Alternative to Opiates. Does it Reduce Pain and Improve the Quality of Living?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/594788
