• Nearly 1,300 respondents responded to an online survey on prescription drug substitution.
  • The results show that almost 50% of the respondents substitute marijuana prescription drugs.
  • The study shows that in countries where cannabis use is legal, the likelihood of substitution is higher.

Background Study

The study involved: James M Corroon Jr, Laurie K Mischley and Michelle Sexton, and the main reason for the study was to increase the use of medical cannabis, most often due to pain, anxiety, and depression. Recent data suggests that the use and abuse of prescription drugs may decline in states where medical cannabis is legal.

The goal of this study was to know and explore cannabis users to see if they had deliberately replaced cannabis for prescription drugs.

Examination Methods

The sample examined was a total of 2,774 individuals who entered themselves and confirmed that they had used cannabis at least once in the previous 90 days.

Individuals were interviewed through an anonymous online questionnaire that examined cannabis replacement effects. UCAThey were selected by social media or by legal cannabis dispensaries in Washington State.

Results

Total 1 248 respondents (46%) reported using cannabis as a substitute for prescription drugs. The most common types of drugs being replaced include narcotics / opiates (35.8%), anxiolytics / benzodiazepines (13.6%) and antidepressants (12.7%).

There was a messageor a total of 2,473 substitutions or approximately 2 drug substitutions per respondent. The likelihood of drug substitution was 4.59 (95% CI [CI], 3.87, 5.43) was higher among medical cannabis users compared to non-medical cannabis users and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.27 and 1.27, respectively) 2.16) higher among those who reported use to alleviate comorbidities of pain, anxiety and depression.

Slightly higher percentage of respondents whoconfirmed substitution, lived in countries where the use of medical cannabis was legal at the time of the survey (47% vs. 45%, p = 0.58), but this difference was not statistically significant

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