Changes in Prescribed Opioid Dosages Among Patients Receiving Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain, New York State, 2017-2019.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Patients with chronic pain often receive long-term opioid therapy (LOT), which places them at risk of opioid use disorder and overdose. This presents the need for alternative or companion treatments; however, few studies on the association of medical cannabis (MC) with reducing opioid dosages exist.

Objective

To assess changes in opioid dosages among patients receiving MC for longer duration compared with shorter duration.

Design, setting, and participants

This cohort study of New York State Prescription Monitoring Program data from 2017 to 2019 included patients receiving MC for chronic pain while also receiving opioid treatment. Of these, patients receiving LOT prior to receiving MC were selected. Individuals were studied for 8 months after starting MC. D

SUBMITTER: Nguyen T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9887491 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature