Pubdate: Thu, 17 Nov 2016
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2016 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Mike Hager
Page: S1
Referenced: https://blogs.ubc.ca/walshlab/research-interests/

DOCTORS SHOULD CONSIDER POT TO TREAT OPIOID ADDICTIONS, STUDY SAYS

Cannabis could be effective in weaning Canadians addicted to opioids
off the deadly drugs, according to a University of British Columbia
study that examined existing research on how marijuana affects those
with mental-health and substance abuse issues.

Zach Walsh, a clinical psychologist and cannabis researcher who led
the study, says the research shows many people are using cannabis to
replace or lower their intake of heavier medications, though he
cautioned that more medical trials are needed to prove how marijuana
is helping those addicted to opioids.

"We need to explore the possibility that someone could substitute
cannabis for an opioid and, most addiction professionals would agree,
that cannabis is an easier habit to kick …" said Dr. Walsh. "So if you
can transition to cannabis, then wean yourself off that, that might
offer some opportunities for people."

Dr. Walsh and his team of five other researchers from UBC and two
American institutions reviewed all studies involving mental health and
marijuana published since 1960, and found a pronounced link between
opioids and cannabis. Dr. Walsh said he hopes the study, published in
the latest issue of the Clinical Psychology Review journal, will lead
doctors and counsellors to rethink their views on cannabis.

"This is like any other medicine: You want to look at the harms, you
want to look at the benefits, you want to be specific to conditions
and listen to your patients," Dr. Walsh said.

Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott will host a conference this
weekend in Ottawa to discuss an opioid crisis that has killed hundreds
in British Columbia alone and resulted in thousands of overdoses,
taxing police, fire and emergency health departments.

B.C. declared a public-health emergency in April as fatal overdose
deaths spiked across the province, many linked to the powerful opioid
fentanyl, which is now detected in more than half of deadly overdoses.
By the end of September, 555 people had died in B.C., surpassing the
number of fatalities for all of 2015.

Before last year's federal election, some of Canada's leading
addictions experts called on the country's conservative medical
establishment to opt for prescribing cannabis instead of frequently
abused opioids to treat patients with neuropathic pain and a host of
other conditions. Those experts cited studies from the United States,
which showed such fatal opioid overdoses dropped by 25 per cent in
states that have enacted medical-pot laws.

Dr. Walsh said clinical trials are now needed to show how and why the
substitution effect takes place. He added a "dream trial" would
compare whether people wanting to stop using opioids in favour of
cannabis see better results than those who receive a marijuana placebo
or those who try to quit using traditional methods: methadone or
behavioural therapy.

He said such trials could be financed by Ottawa after it begins
collecting taxes on the sale of recreational marijuana, which is
expected to start as early as 2018.

With legalization of marijuana possible as early as next year in
Canada, it's important to identify ways to help mental-health
professionals move beyond the stigma of cannabis, added Dr. Walsh.

"There is currently not a lot of clear guidance on how mental health
professionals can best work with people who are using cannabis for
medical purposes," Dr. Walsh said.

Dr. Walsh said Canada could become a world leader in this type of
research, especially since cannabis for trials is controlled much more
tightly in the U.S., where pot is expected to remain a
federally-prohibited substance for the next several years.
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MAP posted-by: Matt