Marijuana May Help Treat Opioid Addiction By Reducing Severity Of Withdrawal Symptoms

New evidence has emerged supporting the idea that marijuana may help rehab patients recover from and kick their addictions to painkillers. The study, published by researchers at Columbia University earlier this month, showed that patients given a form of THC during their recovery experienced less severe withdrawal symptoms and were more likely to complete their treatment course.

Sixty patients placed in a clinic to detox from opioids were given either a placebo or 30 grams of dronabinol daily. Dronabinol is a form a THC — more specifically, a compound that contains cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant. The patients given dronabinol reported much less severe withdrawal symptoms than those given the placebo. Also, patients who chose to smoke marijuana during the outpatient phase of treatment reported fewer negative health effects (including insomnia and anxiety) than those who did not smoke.

Is Weed The Secret To Beating Opioid Addiction?

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URL: 
http://www.medicaldaily.com/marijuana-may-help-treat-opioid-addiction-reducing-severity-withdrawal-symptoms-344950