In recent years, a great number of individuals have been contemplating safer measures in the treatment of chronic pain due to the addiction potential of prescribed painkillers such as opioids. The current state of evidence and recommendations from healthcare providers show the benefits of cannabis as an alternative to opioids. This article addresses the concerns regarding the use of THC gummies in place of prescription opiate painkillers.
What Are Opioid Medications and Why Are They Commonly Used for Chronic Pain?
Opioids are a class of pain medications that are primary for pain management. They bind to particular sites in the brain, and this decreases the feeling of pain. However, their availability is not so common due to their risk of abuse.
How Opioids Work in the Body
Opioids work by binding to pain receptors in the brain and in the spinal cord. This causes a modification in the feeling of pain as well as blockage of pain signals being received. The three important aspects of their functioning are:
- They provide a good level of relief for both acute and chronic pain.
- They have the potential to induce euphoria which may result in abuse of the substance.
- Chronic use leads to tolerance and increased dosages are necessary to achieve the same effect.
Common Conditions Treated with Opioids
While prescription opioid can alleviate chronic pain, their use is usually not recommended. Doctors usually advise to use them sparingly by employing the lowest effective dose and only when necessary. Opioids are commonly used in treating:
- Chronic pain conditions such as back pain or arthritis.
- Pain resulting from cancer where management is key.
- Pain caused by surgery, so that recuperation may occur in comfort.
- Pain from multiple sclerosis.
What Are the Risks Associated with Opioid Use?
The use of opioids have various risks associated with them.
Dependency and Tolerance Risks
Opioids can develop dependency as its users increasingly take higher doses for an equal impact. Eventually, this cycle causes the user to take more medications as the previous dose has become less effective.
Side Effects of Long-Term Opioid Use
There is a wide range of risks related to the continuous use of opioids. They include;
- Constipated
- Nauseous
- Calm
- Disoriented
Public Health Concerns with Opioid Use Disorder
Opiate prescriptions have greatly increased the population's concern. As a result, using cannabis to treat chronic pain patients is considered a better option. Opioids effects have transformed into an epidemic called opiate use disorder for so many people, and it can result in:
- Increased cost of treatment
- Higher tendency for addicts
- More overdose fatalities
How Does Medical Cannabis Work to Relieve Pain?
Cannabis contains a wide range of active compounds, the most important for pain relief being the cannabinoids, THC and CBD.
Role of Cannabinoids and THC in Pain Relief
The endocannabinoids system is an essential anatomical structure in the human body that centers itself on pain and mood alleviation. Certain areas in the brain will respond to THC with negative emotions and therefore will dull at least one excruciating pain response.
How the Endocannabinoid System Modulates Pain
ECS (Endocannabinoid System), endocannabinoids, the receptors, and the enzymes that this system comprises, are responsible for how the human body perceives pain.
- Receptors: These are located throughout the body and are stimulated by cannabinoids.
- Endocannabinoids: These are synthesized in the body, and are the active substances that receptors have a binding with.
- Enzymes: It is under these molecules action of endocannabinoids that they lose the efficiency of achieving a range of goals.
Differences Between Cannabis and Traditional Pain Medications
Cannabis could potentially be a standard alternative for painkillers for chronic users who are prone to becoming addicted. Unlike opioids, marijuana offers a different paradigm for people dealing with pain. Here are some key differences:
- Addictiveness: Cannabinoids share a low likelihood of addiction risk as compared to opioids.
- Adverse Effects: Cannabis active ingredients also cause a number of side effects but they seem to be of a much lower impact than those caused by opioid usage.
- Mechanism of Action: There is a difference in the mechanism wherein the cannabinoids exert their action through the ECS while in case of opioids, the action is on the pain receptors in the brain.
Can Medical Cannabis Be Used as a Substitute for Opioid-Based Pain Medication?
Cannabis use is associated with a reduction of pain, anxiety and other health problems. There is a need to look at cannabis use as an opioid treatment alternative for chronic pain management. It seems to have less risk and is much less likely to cause a fatal overdose. Consider the following three aspects:
- Medical marijuana can help reduce pain without the same risks as opioids.
- Several patients report a decrease in their opioid usage once they begin using cannabis.
- Using cannabis as a substitute helps avoid respiratory depression, a serious risk with opioids.
- The use of cannabis also enhances the quality of life of the users by relieving them of pain.
When people use cannabis, they get to address addiction problems and provide solutions to enhance the quality of life of people.
Common Side Effects of Cannabis Compared to Opioids
Cannabis does have adverse effects. However, these are in most cases less than that of opioids. Cannabis users may experience the following common symptoms:
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Excessive thirst that sometimes comes with a dry mouth
- More food cravings or increased hunger
In contrast, opioids can lead to more serious issues like respiratory problems and dependency. If patients use medical cannabis from trusted sources and under guidance, it can help mitigate its side effects.
How Do Medical Marijuana Laws Influence Opioid Prescriptions?
Certain states of the US have included the use of cannabis as a legal option for treating people with chronic pain. These cannabis laws have led to a medication reduction in using opioids for chronic pain, among other prescription medications.
Medical use of marijuana has made states with legalization prescribe fewer amounts of opioids as more people are likely to use cannabis to reduce their pain levels. Here are some key points:
- Many medical cannabis users state that they would much rather consume it than take opioid prescription drugs.
- States where cannabis is freely available have lesser proportions of the people who go to hospitals.
- The number of opioid-related deaths is significantly low in these states.
THC for Pain Relief
THC gummies might be a safer option for healing persistent pain compared to prescribed opioids which has the potential to be habit-forming and has other negative side effects. Such gummies have helped many cannabis users manage their discomfort and cut down on their dependence on more potent drugs. With that in mind, not everyone has the same response and it is important to get guidance from healthcare providers.