As communities spend the month of December preparing and celebrating various festivities, sadly many friends and loved ones will not participate in this or any other joy. Drug addiction is a perpetual relapse disorder emphasized by compulsive behavior and the accompanying desire to use drugs with a loss of control over consumption. Addicts are so deeply drawn to their desire, simply surviving becomes their only wish on the list. Due to focused media campaigns, the population has become more aware of higher suicide rates during the holidays and many of those will be the result of yet another drug overdose, be it intentional or not. There is time to get a medical marijuana card, start a personalized path to recovery and enjoy the holidays sober and sane.
What are the primary risk factors for addiction?
- Psychological burdens
- Predisposition/genetics
- Environmental factors
Regardless of how use develops into abuse, the detrimental outcome affects the individual, families and the community. According to statistics, millions of American adults experience polysubstance addictions, roughly 40% suffer from illicit drug use disorder and, “1 out of every 8 adults struggled with both alcohol and drug use disorders simultaneously.” The five most addictive substances are methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, nicotine and alcohol. “The incursion of meth has been particularly problematic. Not only is there no approved medical treatment for meth addiction, but meth can also undercut the effectiveness of opioid addiction therapies.”
What medications are used in addiction treatment?
As ironic as it is, methadone is often used to wean addicts off of opioids. Other prescriptions drugs include antidepressants like Bupropion, Klonopin to treat seizures and Topiramate to treat epilepsy and migraines. Additionally, there are craving-preventatives, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics and muscle relaxers. “It is common for people with substance use disorders to also have a mental health disorder. When a mental health condition co-occurs with addiction, both must be treated at the same time to reduce the risk of a setback.” Additionally, “Narcan (Naloxone) is a drug used to revive people who overdosed on opioids. Due to the rise in opioid overdoses, many people carry Narcan with them.”
Harm reduction is the latest strategy used in an attempt to gain control over turbulent addictions. Medical marijuana has been identified as an aid in recovery from many symptoms associated with addiction including movement disorders such as seizures or tremors, chronic pain, psychological burdens, appetite control, cramps, migraines, nausea and more. Non-addictive cannabinoid (CBD), found in hemp-derived cannabis has been studied and proven to provide relief, indicating that medical marijuana could be used as a frontline treatment for polysubstance addiction. However more “research is critically needed, because we have to be able to advise patients and doctors on the safe and effective use of cannabis,” Bonn-Miller
“There has been comparatively little discussion about meth and cocaine, despite the fact that during the 12-month period ending in May 2023, over 34,000 deaths were attributed to methamphetamine and 28,000 to cocaine, according to provisional federal data.”
Polysubstance abuse hazards include:
- Altered reality
- Brain injury
- Heart attack
- Increased heart rate and body temperature
- Nausea/vomiting
- Chest Pain
- Seizures
- Stroke
- Liver damage
- Overdose/hospitalization
- Death
More than 250 Americans lose their life to drug addiction every day.
Just last month, the Food and Drug Administration issued draft guidelines for the development of therapies for stimulant-use disorders “critically needed to address treatment gaps.” This is an appropriate time to engage the abundance of beneficial cannabinoids found in medical marijuana. Patients rave about the non-addictive support they receive when employing this powerful plant as an ally to treat many symptoms associated with addiction. “In light of the opioid epidemic, it is important to identify as many strategies as possible to curb opioid addiction and scientists have asked whether or not cannabis use can help individuals recover from opioid use disorder or may serve as a less-risky pain management approach to pharmaceutical opioids.”
As medical marijuana gains traction as a phytopharmaceutical, the highest hope is for it to be used as a non-addictive target treatment for the multitude of side effects and consequences of polysubstance abuse. Researchers are providing significant facts through surveys and studies focused on stellar cannabinoids like CBD, CBG and THC, as they continuously show scientific conclusions validating the medicinal uses. Cannabidiol “has been shown to have anxiolytic, anti-psychotic, antidepressant, and neuroprotective properties.” A hybrid medical strain like Alien OG reportedly provides relief from insomnia, loss of appetite, chronic pain, nausea, stress, depression and muscle tension. Paul S. (verified purchase) January 20, 2023, “Very good strain! I feel my muscles relax and pain subside. Also, this is an ‘anxiety buster’!”