More evidence that pot can prevent opiod deaths
When people use cannabis do they stop using other drugs?
There’s been some good research into this – which may be THE key question when it comes to medical marijuana.
The answer appears to be – some do stop using other drugs. And, even better, fewer people die.
Key findings using Medicare data:
Couple observations – there have been massive changes in PDMPs, increases in naloxone usage, tighter state laws and federal guidance on opioids (CDC et al), which may well have had some impact on death rates and lower opioid usage overall (Brian Allen of Mitchell made this point just after I wrote this). Dr Bradford noted that their analysis considered these possible confounding issues.
My big takeaway – there’s a significant reduction in the number of deaths due to opioids when states have access to cannabis. Like a 25% reduction.
Dr David Bradford of the University of Georgia presented this information; he and Ashley Bradford published much of this in a piece in HealthAffairs two years ago; they used Medicare and Medicaid data.
Dr Bradford noted he and Ms Bradford hope to be working with WCRI on a workers’ comp-specific study soon.
The answer appears to be – some do stop using other drugs. And, even better, fewer people die.
Key findings using Medicare data:
- States with medical marijuana laws saw about 10% fewer daily doses of opioids than those without those laws.
- States with dispensaries only (no home cultivation) saw a 14% decrease in opioid doses
- Total savings to Medicare and Medicaid would be about $3.4 billion if all states adopted Medical Marijuana Laws – but the folks buying the marijuana would pay for their cannabis out of their own pockets.
Couple observations – there have been massive changes in PDMPs, increases in naloxone usage, tighter state laws and federal guidance on opioids (CDC et al), which may well have had some impact on death rates and lower opioid usage overall (Brian Allen of Mitchell made this point just after I wrote this). Dr Bradford noted that their analysis considered these possible confounding issues.
My big takeaway – there’s a significant reduction in the number of deaths due to opioids when states have access to cannabis. Like a 25% reduction.
Dr David Bradford of the University of Georgia presented this information; he and Ashley Bradford published much of this in a piece in HealthAffairs two years ago; they used Medicare and Medicaid data.
Dr Bradford noted he and Ms Bradford hope to be working with WCRI on a workers’ comp-specific study soon.
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 9:15 AM
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2 Comments:
More evidence suggests that in states that have medical marijuana, prescriptions for opioids are down. This report was given at the WCRI's annual conference last week.
BOSTON — While many questions about medical marijuana and workers compensation remain, economists are working to answer one: Will medical marijuana eventually lower the prescription drug spend for pain medications such as opioids?
Recent studies using Medicare Part D and Medicaid prescription data in states that passed medical marijuana laws point to yes, according to ongoing research conducted by David Bradford, George D. Busbee Chair in Public Policy in the Department of Public Administration and Policy at the University of Georgia.
Among the figures, states that allow various forms of medical marijuana saw a 10% reduction in opioid prescriptions, according to Medicare’s prescription database between 2010 and 2015. States that permit medical marijuana distribution via dispensaries — versus states that only permit the private cultivation of marijuana for medicinal purposes — saw a 14% decline in pain medications prescribed under Medicare Part D. Medicaid data showed an 11% reduction in pain prescriptions between 2010 and 2015 in states that permit medical marijuana.
Mr. Bradford presented his initial findings during a Friday morning session at the Workers Compensation Research Institute’s 24th annual Issues and Research Conference in Boston, finding that all the savings are occurring in urban areas.
“Cannabis policy has been the subject of pretty intense public debate and policy discussion,” he said, adding that research shows 91% of Americans polled agree that marijuana should be on the table for medical therapies. “The question is, when you give people access to this product, do they seem to change their medical behavior?”
Medical marijuana, in various forms and under various restrictions, is now legal in 29 states and Washington, D.C., he said. Pain, it appears, is one of the most prevalent reasons people turn to medical marijuana, he added.
Mr. Bradford’s figures, tallied for 2010 to 2015, show that states with medical marijuana laws have saved the federal government as much as $500 million. It’s the fewer prescriptions that saves the government money, he said, adding that the cost for medical marijuana is shouldered by the patient, as marijuana remains a Schedule 1 drug, per the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The federal stance that marijuana is illegal complicates an insurer’s ability to pay for the drug, experts have said. In workers compensation, payers have been ordered, via courts or state regulations, to pay for the medication. The practice is not widespread, however.
At least one attendee noted that Mr. Bradford’s figures do not account for strides the government has made in reducing opioid use, such as limiting refills and other measures.
As for cost, medical marijuana is less expensive, he said, with a daily dose of hydrocodone averaging $10 and that of marijuana for pain $6.
Although the studies, published in several academic journals with additional data to be published in the spring, look at the impact of medical marijuana on other social insurance programs, not workers comp, the results suggest the alternative medication could save money in comp, he said.
Next year he hopes to have data that would pertain to the workers comp industry and is now studying changes in opioid deaths in states with medical marijuana laws.
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