This study sought to evaluate whether medicinal cannabis (marijuana) laws (MMLs) influence opioid and benzodiazepine use through displacement from opioids and companion drugs toward cannabis for arguably better or comparable pain management among aging Americans (i.e., those aged 50 years and older) as opposed to concentrating on older people aged 65 years and above. This aging demographic is an understudied but vulnerable population to unknown or paradoxical policy effects amid the current medical and legal landscape. Should this displacement occur, the implementation of such legislation may ultimately aid in mitigating the adverse repercussions that ensue from an excessive dependence on these more traditional medications. However, it is also critical to assess whether these laws worsen outcomes among this population.
To investigate these possibilities, 2022 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) are used along with multiple logistic regression procedures to evaluate the use of opioids and benzodiazepines in MMLs for those aged 50 years and older compared to those younger.
Findings reveal that less opioid reliance is reported among the aging residing in MML states compared to non-MML states. However, no effect from the laws is observed for benzodiazepines or co-prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines among this population.
MMLs may serve to attenuate the consequences of opioid reliance among the aging but not use of opiates in combination with benzodiazepines or the use of benzodiazepines alone.
Citation: Jamie L. Flexon, Lisa Stolzenberg, Stewart J. D'Alessio. The effect of cannabis legislation on opioid and benzodiazepine use among aging Americans[J]. AIMS Medical Science, 2024, 11(4): 361-377. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2024025
This study sought to evaluate whether medicinal cannabis (marijuana) laws (MMLs) influence opioid and benzodiazepine use through displacement from opioids and companion drugs toward cannabis for arguably better or comparable pain management among aging Americans (i.e., those aged 50 years and older) as opposed to concentrating on older people aged 65 years and above. This aging demographic is an understudied but vulnerable population to unknown or paradoxical policy effects amid the current medical and legal landscape. Should this displacement occur, the implementation of such legislation may ultimately aid in mitigating the adverse repercussions that ensue from an excessive dependence on these more traditional medications. However, it is also critical to assess whether these laws worsen outcomes among this population.
To investigate these possibilities, 2022 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) are used along with multiple logistic regression procedures to evaluate the use of opioids and benzodiazepines in MMLs for those aged 50 years and older compared to those younger.
Findings reveal that less opioid reliance is reported among the aging residing in MML states compared to non-MML states. However, no effect from the laws is observed for benzodiazepines or co-prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines among this population.
MMLs may serve to attenuate the consequences of opioid reliance among the aging but not use of opiates in combination with benzodiazepines or the use of benzodiazepines alone.
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 medsci-11-04-025-s001.pdf |
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Jamie L. Flexon, Lisa Stolzenberg, Stewart J. D'Alessio. The effect of cannabis legislation on opioid and benzodiazepine use among aging Americans[J]. AIMS Medical Science, 2024, 11(4): 361-377. doi: 10.3934/medsci.2024025
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