Abstract
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
April 1, 2017 Volume 173, Pages 144–150
Medical marijuana policies and hospitalizations related to marijuana and opioid pain reliever
Yuyan Shi
Yuyan Shi
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.006
Highlights
•Hospitalizations related to marijuana and opioid have risen by 300%.
•Medical marijuana legalization reduced opioid-related hospitalizations.
•Medical marijuana legalization had no impacts on marijuana-related hospitalizations.
Abstract
Objectives
Twenty-eight states in the U.S have legalized medical marijuana, yet its impacts on severe health consequences such as hospitalizations remain unknown. Meanwhile, the prevalence of opioid pain reliever (OPR) use and outcomes has increased dramatically. Recent studies suggested unintended impacts of legalizing medical marijuana on OPR, but the evidence is still limited. This study examined the associations between state medical marijuana policies and hospitalizations related to marijuana and OPR.
Methods
State-level annual administrative records of hospital discharges during 1997–2014 were obtained from the State Inpatient Databases (SID). The outcome variables were rates of hospitalizations involving marijuana dependence or abuse, opioid dependence or abuse, and OPR overdose in 1000 discharges. Linear time-series regressions were used to assess the associations of implementing medical marijuana policies to hospitalizations, controlling for other marijuana- and OPR-related policies, socioeconomic factors, and state and year fixed effects.
Results
Hospitalizations related to marijuana and OPR increased sharply by 300% on average in all states. Medical marijuana legalization was associated with 23% (p = 0.008) and 13% (p = 0.025) reductions in hospitalizations related to opioid dependence or abuse and OPR overdose, respectively; lagged effects were observed after policy implementation. The operation of medical marijuana dispensaries had no independent impacts on OPR-related hospitalizations. Medical marijuana polices had no associations with marijuana-related hospitalizations.
Conclusion
Medical marijuana policies were significantly associated with reduced OPR-related hospitalizations but had no associations with marijuana-related hospitalizations. Given the epidemic of problematic use of OPR, future investigation is needed to explore the causal pathways of these findings.
Highlights
•Hospitalizations related to marijuana and opioid have risen by 300%.
•Medical marijuana legalization reduced opioid-related hospitalizations.
•Medical marijuana legalization had no impacts on marijuana-related hospitalizations.
Abstract
Objectives
Twenty-eight states in the U.S have legalized medical marijuana, yet its impacts on severe health consequences such as hospitalizations remain unknown. Meanwhile, the prevalence of opioid pain reliever (OPR) use and outcomes has increased dramatically. Recent studies suggested unintended impacts of legalizing medical marijuana on OPR, but the evidence is still limited. This study examined the associations between state medical marijuana policies and hospitalizations related to marijuana and OPR.
Methods
State-level annual administrative records of hospital discharges during 1997–2014 were obtained from the State Inpatient Databases (SID). The outcome variables were rates of hospitalizations involving marijuana dependence or abuse, opioid dependence or abuse, and OPR overdose in 1000 discharges. Linear time-series regressions were used to assess the associations of implementing medical marijuana policies to hospitalizations, controlling for other marijuana- and OPR-related policies, socioeconomic factors, and state and year fixed effects.
Results
Hospitalizations related to marijuana and OPR increased sharply by 300% on average in all states. Medical marijuana legalization was associated with 23% (p = 0.008) and 13% (p = 0.025) reductions in hospitalizations related to opioid dependence or abuse and OPR overdose, respectively; lagged effects were observed after policy implementation. The operation of medical marijuana dispensaries had no independent impacts on OPR-related hospitalizations. Medical marijuana polices had no associations with marijuana-related hospitalizations.
Conclusion
Medical marijuana policies were significantly associated with reduced OPR-related hospitalizations but had no associations with marijuana-related hospitalizations. Given the epidemic of problematic use of OPR, future investigation is needed to explore the causal pathways of these findings.
http://www.drugandalcoholdependence.com/article/S0376-8716(17)30076-5/abstract
Hospitalization rates for opioid painkiller dependence and abuse dropped on average 23 percent in states after marijuana was permitted for medicinal purposes, the analysis found. Hospitalization rates for opioid overdoses dropped 13 percent on average.
At the same time, fears that legalization of medical marijuana would lead to an uptick in cannabis-related hospitalizations proved unfounded, according to the report in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
March, 19, 2017
MD Whistleblower
Medical Marijuana Use - Ready, Fire, Aim!
Michael Kirsch, MD
Promoting medical marijuana use is hot – smokin’ hot. States are racing to legalize this product, both for recreational and medical use. In my view, there’s a stronger case to be made for the former than the latter.
Continue reading...
Media Coverage Of This Article
Would legalizing medical marijuana help curb the opioid epidemic?
By Ronnie Cohen
Would legalizing medical marijuana help curb the opioid epidemic?
By Ronnie Cohen
(Reuters Health) - In states that legalized medical marijuana, U.S. hospitals failed to see a predicted influx of pot smokers, but in an unexpected twist, they treated far fewer opioid users, a new study shows.
Hospitalization rates for opioid painkiller dependence and abuse dropped on average 23 percent in states after marijuana was permitted for medicinal purposes, the analysis found. Hospitalization rates for opioid overdoses dropped 13 percent on average.
At the same time, fears that legalization of medical marijuana would lead to an uptick in cannabis-related hospitalizations proved unfounded, according to the report in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
MD Whistleblower
Medical Marijuana Use - Ready, Fire, Aim!
Michael Kirsch, MD
Promoting medical marijuana use is hot – smokin’ hot. States are racing to legalize this product, both for recreational and medical use. In my view, there’s a stronger case to be made for the former than the latter.
Continue reading...
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