- A newly published peer-reviewed
paper reveals patients are mostly using medical cannabis to help
with chronic pain conditions
- It’s part of Project Twenty 21, a real-world study of medical cannabis
patients
- Of the 1,782 patients taking part in the
project, 949 (54.7%) were using their prescription to manage chronic
pain
- Researchers say it dispels the myth that
medical cannabis patients are young, recreational users
A newly
published paper is highlighting the benefits of using medical cannabis to treat
debilitating chronic pain conditions. The peer-reviewed research, carried out by Drug Science, shows how most medical cannabis patients are
using the drug to manage chronic pain. It’s part of Project Twenty 21, an initiative which is collecting data from
patients who receive a medical cannabis prescription, with the aim of studying
its safety and effectiveness in real-world settings.
This latest study shows how out of 1,782 people
who had sought treatment, 949 (54.7%) had a primary diagnosis of chronic pain.
These patients said they had a low quality of life and high levels of
comorbidity, with people reporting an average of over 4 comorbid conditions
such as anxiety, insomnia and stress.
Medical cannabis was legalised in November 2018
and is used to treat a variety of conditions, many of which cause chronic pain
such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis and endometriosis. In the UK, chronic
pain is estimated to affect between one third and half of the adult population.
Sufferers are likely to have to deal with other side effects such as altered
mood, poor sleep and a marked reduction in their perceived quality of life.
Researchers say nearly half of the patients
surveyed for this latest paper were classified as having severe pain, with over
half experiencing severe or extreme problems due to their pain. Their ages
ranged widely too from 18 to 84, with an average age of 42. Researchers say
this evidence shows the idea that medical cannabis patients are young,
recreational users looking for a legal source of the drug can be ‘firmly
dispelled’.
With only a small number of medicines regulated on
the NHS, most patients access the drug through private prescriptions. Research
like this is vital in terms of improving access for the drug and combating the
stigma and misconceptions associated with it.
Dr Elizabeth Iveson, one of the
authors of the paper and a prescribing doctor at The
Medical Cannabis Clinics (TMCC) said: “I have seen first-hand how transformative
cannabis has been for my patients. No-one should have to suffer when we have
the medical means to safely treat them. But too often, I hear from those who
need it most that they simply can’t get access. That is why I am proud to be
part of a team that is committed to ensuring patients are able to get the
treatment they desperately need. Project Twenty 21 is carrying out vital
real-world research into the effectiveness of medical cannabis to help improve
access. This latest data backs up previous findings in other studies, that
chronic pain is the most common condition in the prescription of cannabinoids.”
48-year-old Loz, from Hackney,
was diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis two years ago and
is part of Project Twenty 21. She says her medical cannabis prescription has
changed her life. She said:
“I’d have bad days where I couldn't get out of bed so I’d take high strength
co-codamol. I was desperate to live a more functional life, not spend all day
in bed on opiates. Once I received my medical cannabis prescription, it
was pretty life-changing. It meant I could cut down on my very strong
painkillers. It’s helped massively with my fatigue and tiredness. It’s given me
the ability to control and regulate my pain. When you have a chronic illness
you don’t have that control, and this has given me that back.”
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