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Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

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Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

#111
post #28

I get kidney stones pretty often (6 times in the last 8 years). I vomit from the pain, convulse on the floor, lose all sense of self as I just struggle to survive the sensation. It is intense. Usually I have to go to the emergency room for IV opioids. Then they give you some to take home after you pass the peak of the pain. Last time it happened to me, I went home at around 6pm after going into the hospital that morn…

> And I was flabbergasted that no one I touched in the medical establishment had ever recommended it.

A very American problem. Speaking with some of my Canadian colleagues, recommendations for cannabis usage in managing pain and other conditions is much more frequent.

Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

#112
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a friend who lost a bunch of weight (and was very overweight) in a relatively short period. He then developed gout, which is apparently agonizing. He did the same things as you, and like you, is "in awe". Just having seen the difference in him I'm prettied impressed too. I'm glad that you've found something that works for you.

Pain from gout is excruciating. It is incredibly painful, and you can't put pressure on it, you can't even cover it with a light sheet, you can't sleep... and it goes on for days, sometimes weeks. My longest attack was 2 months long. Standard opioids didn't touch. Should have tried MJ instead.

Do you drink much alcohol?

Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

#113
post #18
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If even 250 people are taking cannabis (not physically addictive, limited health impact, no tolerance buildup) over opiates (highly addictive, rapid tolerance buildup, very risky) then that's a good thing, right?

The lack of side effects should be a key part of the decision. Effectiveness of pain relief is in my perhaps inempathetic opinion less important. People can handle some pain, and that is fine. 100% pain relief through opiates vs 50% pain relief through less detrimental means is probably worth it.

But surely most opioid pain treatments will have less side effects than pot?

Although, I suppose the side effects of pot are considered desirable by many.

Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

#114
post #81

There are also other substances (such as psilocybin and LSD) which have the potential to massively reduce the cashflow of big pharma (specifically: in the case of anti-depressants). And now you understand the importance of the War on Drugs for billionaires in our society. It seems people are slowly beginning to understand to what degree our society and its systems are corrupted by "economic forces" and not built with…

I see people say this, and I disagree. And just for clarity, I'm definitely pro-drug legalisation - even of drugs I never want to be in the same room with.

I think drug companies are precisely the sort of place to produce medical-grade LSD (and other therapudic "recreational" drugs) that has predictable dosages. Same goes for cannabinoids in pill form - especially the sorts meant for folks that would rather skip the high. Someone will need to supply mental health & addiction centers with this. And I think the sale of which will be basically on-par with at least generic anti-depressants. It won't replace anti-depressants or anti-anxiety meds, however. While some folks find improvements in such treatments, it can also make the symptoms worse. It isn't a cure-all, but rather an important alternative and/or addition to current drug treatments. Of course, this is all assuming folks have a clinical setting and that "big pharma" enters this section of the market.

This isn't saying that the war on drugs isn't something about money, but I highly doubt it is big pharma. In fact, considering some of the horror stories about medical treatment in prisons, it might actually be a positive for them even if they don't enter the market as those folks would theoretically get "normal" medical treatment. In contrast, private and public prisons have a huge network of suppliers. Companies and the government hire inmates to do work at very low labor costs. These folks have much more to lose from the end of the drug war.

Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

#115
post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So is tobacco and while I've known the occasional person who grew it, it's pretty uncommon. I've also been surprised that tobacco companies don't get in on the legalise marijuana thing. Possibly they are suffering so much from bad press they don't think they could withstand the backlash...

It is also a new market for them. They can sit on their current market share or help open up a new market and risk it cannibalising their existing market while they potentially may fail to get sufficient market share in the new market to offset the losses. It seems like basically an industry on the defensive that see it as safer to just hole up and try to maintain status quo as much as possible.

Ah yes, the Blockbuster business model. Let's see how it goes for them.

Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do I have to name the company I work for? We fired 5 people this year after company wide piss tests at seven sites. THis: http://think.direct.gov.uk/drug-driving.html

What's the problem? I'm completely for making all drug use legal but I don't want people driving when they've been taking drugs.

The testing doesn't show whether the person is currently under the influence - it tests for metabolites that can still be found a long time after use.

Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

#117
post #46
post #2

In many cases, though, cannabis and CBD oil aren't nearly as effective as opioids for relief from severe pain, right? How often is this a viable alternative for patients? This study only looked at 250 people who already have medical cannabis prescriptions for pain, so this shouldn't be extrapolated too heavily.

MS sufferers take it for muscle spasms and neuropathy. Opioids have problems like tolerance and stomach irritation that cannabis does not, and since MS is usually a lifelong affliction this can be bad over the long term.

I was going to comment something similar. I'll add this, however. Some MS patients also suffer with muscle spasticity - basically a muscle that stays contracted. This can be painful and limit mobility: At best it is uncomfortable. Normal treatment includes things like Valium.

In tests with cannabis, patients reported improvements with both mobility and the amount of pain/discomfort. However, when researchers measured the spasticity there was no clinical improvement. Both were true - it seems sometimes all folks need to do is not be so bothered by their daily pains.

Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

#118

And fundamentalists Christians would rather let God heal their children than consult medical professionals. Let's not elevate the desires of the non-professional to equal the guidance of medical professionals, no matter how wishful we are to do so.

And they should be free to do so. Fewer dumb people in the world.

You want to pop your heroin, you're free to listen to the pros.

Others think cannabis works better for them? Let them have it.

Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

#119

And fundamentalists Christians would rather let God heal their children than consult medical professionals. Let's not elevate the desires of the non-professional to equal the guidance of medical professionals, no matter how wishful we are to do so.

The bigger issue with this statement is effectiveness.

It seems that we can't find evidence for the prayer healing. I've caught wind that prayer can sometimes help the individual alongside modern medicine (the same goes for positive thinking). I also assume these folks had a religious leaning before they got sick.

On the other hand, we've actually studied some of the effects of "recreational drugs" on pain and mental health. It has been difficult considering the laws of the land, so we've not done as much as we could have.

Re: Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

#120
post #99

They are making it 'more' illegal in the UK. You are drug tested if you are pulled over by their pigs and their companies do urine tests on every single employee regardless of role and fired. Unless you are an exec I bet and for something you could have done legally over a month ago stateside. My niece has Crohn's. From a lovely vibrant kid she has managed this pain with a smile and nearly died once or twice. She is…

>> their companies do urine tests on every single employee regardless of role and fired. https://www.gov.uk/monitoring-work-workers-rights/drug-testi... > 2. Drug testing > Employers have to have consent if they want to test for drugs. Usually this is when they have a full contractual health and safety policy, which should be in the contract or staff handbook. > Employers should: > limit testing to employees that nee…

Yeah, from my experience the tests were as "random" as picking the black guy out of 20 white people.

BUT they didn't target the people who did use weed or drank a lot, they tested the ones who were clean. So the company looks clean.

What do gamers say, GG EZ lol

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