Impact of Cannabis on Opioid Prescriptions in Chronic Pain

This research article investigates the association between cannabis use and opioid prescription rates among chronic pain patients in Utah. The study utilizes a retrospective cohort design, analyzing data from 186 patients diagnosed with chronic pain, linking cannabis consumption data from a pharmacy with clinical records. The objective is to explore how cannabis may serve as an alternative treatment for chronic pain, potentially reducing reliance on opioids. The findings indicate that a significant majority of patients (84.4%) experienced a reduction in Morphine Milligram Equivalents (MME) per month after initiating cannabis use, with an overall reduction of 53.1%. The analysis also characterizes the demographics of patients who benefited from cannabis, noting that those with chronic musculoskeletal pain showed higher opioid consumption. The study underscores the potential role of cannabis in pain management and its implications for prescribing practices, particularly in light of the ongoing opioid crisis.