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Cannabis News
9 of 10 Docs Unprepared to Prescribe Marijuana
Posted 1 day 6 hours ago by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, Sept. 19, 2017 – Although it's becoming more commonplace, medical marijuana is rarely discussed in U.S. medical schools, a new study shows. "Medical education needs to catch up to marijuana legislation," said senior author Dr. Laura Jean Bierut, a professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "Physicians in training need to know the benefits and drawbacks associated with medical marijuana so they know when or if, and to whom, to prescribe the drug," she explained in a school news release. Marijuana is now legal – at least for medical purposes – in more than half the states in the country, the researchers said. Curriculum deans at 101 medical schools completed surveys about marijuana education. Just over two-thirds said their graduates weren't prepared to prescribe medical marijuana. One-quarter said their graduates weren't even able to ... Read more
Related support groups: Pain, Nausea/Vomiting, Nausea/Vomiting - Chemotherapy Induced, Cannabis, Nausea/Vomiting - Radiation Induced
App to Help Treat Substance Abuse Approved
Posted 6 days ago by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Sept. 14, 2017 – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its first mobile app to help treat substance abuse, the agency said Thursday in a news release. The Reset application is designed to help treat abuse of alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and stimulant medications. But the app is not intended for opioid dependence, the FDA said. Citing the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the FDA said criteria for Substance Use Disorders (SUD) are met when chronic use of these substances causes "significant impairment, such as health problems, disability and failure to meet major responsibilities at work, school or home." The newly-approved app delivers behavioral therapy that's designed to "increase abstinence from substance abuse and increase [participation] in outpatient therapy programs," the FDA said. "This is an example of how innovative digital ... Read more
Related support groups: Opiate Dependence, Opiate Withdrawal, Smoking Cessation, Drug Dependence, Substance Abuse, Alcoholism, Hangover, Cannabis, Toxic Reactions Incl Drug and Substance Abuse, Substance Abuse - Cocaine, Acute Alcohol Intoxication, C-Topical Solution
Pot Won't Harm Healthy Young People's Kidneys, Study Suggests
Posted 25 Aug 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Aug. 24, 2017 – There's still a lot that scientists don't know about how marijuana affects people's health, but new research suggests that smoking pot doesn't seem to take a toll on healthy young kidneys. Studies with animals had suggested regular pot use could alter kidney function. But the authors of the new study found no evidence to support that claim, at least among healthy young adults who were followed for up to 15 years. "Results from our observational study in young adults with normal kidney function may not translate into a clinically meaningful difference and may be insufficient to inform decision-making concerning marijuana use," said Dr. Julie Ishida, who worked on the study. She's with the University of California, San Francisco, and San Francisco VA Medical Center. The researchers used data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) ... Read more
Related support groups: Renal Failure, Chronic Kidney Disease, Cannabis, Peritoneal dialysis
Marijuana May Help Ease Nerve Pain, Review Finds
Posted 14 Aug 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Aug. 14, 2017 – Marijuana may be slightly effective at reducing chronic nerve pain known as neuropathy. But there's little evidence on whether or not pot helps treat other types of pain or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a pair of new studies suggests. The findings on neuropathy "fit generally well with what we know," said Dr. Sachin Patel of the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital in Nashville. Patel wrote a commentary accompanying the review in the Aug. 15 online edition of Annals of Internal Medicine. Medical marijuana is legal in almost all states and the District of Columbia for certain medical purposes. Some states may have laws that haven't yet been implemented, according to NORML, a pro-marijuana legalization group. But research into the medical uses of marijuana remains controversial. Plus, it's difficult for scientists to study the drug because it is illegal on the ... Read more
Related support groups: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Peripheral Neuropathy, Diabetic Neuropathy, Diabetic Nerve Damage, Cannabis, Small Fiber Neuropathy, Autonomic Neuropathy
ER Rates Soar as Toddlers Ingest Pot, French Study Finds
Posted 14 Aug 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Aug. 14, 2017 – Emergency room admissions for toddlers accidentally intoxicated by marijuana increased 133 percent over a decade in France, a new study finds. With more states legalizing medical and recreational use of marijuana, U.S. experts say the French findings are highly relevant in the United States as well. "The data was pretty concerning, but certainly not surprising," said Dr. Allen Dozor, who wasn't involved in the research. He directs the Children's Environmental Health Center of the Hudson Valley in Valhalla, N.Y. "There's more cannabis [marijuana] around and what have we learned? Again, for the thousandth time, young children are incredibly sensitive to toxins," Dozor added. "As drugs go, cannabis is pretty well-tolerated, but not in a kid who's a year old." Cannabis use is illegal in France, but it is still the highest drug-consuming country in Europe, according ... Read more
Related support groups: Poisoning, Cannabis, Toxic Reactions Incl Drug and Substance Abuse
Pot Compound Alters Levels of Seizure Drug in Epilepsy Patients
Posted 11 Aug 2017 by Drugs.com
FRIDAY, Aug. 11, 2017 – Scientists experimenting with the marijuana compound cannabidiol as an epilepsy treatment must evaluate any interactions with other anti-seizure drugs patients are taking, researchers report. The new research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham suggests cannabidiol affects blood levels of several anti-seizure drugs, especially clobazam. Cannabidiol (CBD) has shown promise as a potential anti-seizure compound in animal and human studies, the Alabama researchers said. They are testing it as a therapy for difficult-to-control epilepsy in 39 adults and 42 children. Other drugs that the participants are taking include clobazam (Onfi), topiramate (Topamax), rufinamide (Banzel), zonisamide (Zonegran), valproate (Depakote) and eslicarbazepine. Blood levels of some of the drugs changed significantly, but except for clobazam, they did not deviate from the ... Read more
Related support groups: Seizures, Topamax, Epilepsy, Topiramate, Qsymia, Seizure Prevention, Zonisamide, Zonegran, Seizure Prophylaxis, Cannabis, Valproic Acid, Onfi, Status Epilepticus, Aptiom, Banzel, Depakene, West Syndrome, Clobazam, Trokendi XR, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Is Pot Linked to Blood Pressure Deaths?
Posted 10 Aug 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, Aug. 10, 2017 – Marijuana use may triple your risk of dying from high blood pressure, a new study suggests. A review of U.S. health survey data found that marijuana users were three times more likely to die from causes related to high blood pressure (hypertension), said lead researcher Barbara Yankey. "Prolonged marijuana use may increase the risk of hypertension [high blood pressure] mortality," she said. "It's important that recreational use of marijuana is approached with caution, because we don't have all the information." Yankey is a doctoral student with the Georgia State University School of Public Health in Atlanta. However, a heart doctor said the study was flawed, mainly because it relied on survey data that failed to answer key questions about the possible link between pot and high blood pressure. "If there's any value in it [the study], it's that it is ... Read more
Related support groups: High Blood Pressure, Hypertension, Cannabis, Hypertensive Heart Disease, Hypertensive Congestive Heart Failure
'12-Step' Strategy Boosts Success of Teen Drug Abuse Program
Posted 8 Aug 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, Aug. 7, 2017 – Drug and alcohol abuse treatment for teens and young adults may be more effective when it includes a 12-step program similar to that used by Alcoholics Anonymous, a new report suggests. The study at Massachusetts General Hospital's Center for Addiction Medicine in Boston lasted nine months, and included 59 people aged 14 to 21. The researchers found that combining the 12-step approach with standard care led to more successful outcomes than current standard methods alone. While a well-designed drug and alcohol abuse program can benefit all adolescents, "we showed that adding a 12-step component to standard cognitive-behavioral and motivational strategies produced significantly greater reductions in substance-related consequences during and in the months following treatment," said study leader John Kelly. He directs the Recovery Research Institute at the hospital. ... Read more
Related support groups: Oxycodone, Percocet, OxyContin, Opiate Dependence, Codeine, Opiate Withdrawal, Roxicodone, Drug Dependence, Alcohol Dependence, Endocet, Cheratussin AC, Tylenol with Codeine, Percocet 10/325, Tylenol with Codeine 3, Substance Abuse, Alcoholism, Acetaminophen/Oxycodone, Roxicet, Hangover, Codeine/Promethazine
Painkiller Misuse Remains a Pressing Problem Across U.S.
Posted 13 Jul 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, July 13, 2017 – Abuse of prescription opioid painkillers is second only to marijuana abuse as the most common illegal drug problem in the United States, a new government report shows. Analysis of 2012-2014 national data found that more than 4 percent of Americans aged 12 and older reported nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers in the past year, says the report from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Misusing powerful narcotic painkillers such as OxyContin (oxycodone), Vicoprofen (hydrocodone) and morphine can lead to substance use disorder, overdose or death. Nonmedical painkiller use was most common in Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas and Nevada, all with rates exceeding 5 percent. The lowest rates – less than 3.5 percent – were in Massachusetts, Vermont, Florida, Montana and Minnesota, the report noted. "Prescription pain ... Read more
Related support groups: Suboxone, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Tramadol, Percocet, Methadone, OxyContin, Vicodin, Norco, Fentanyl, Opiate Dependence, Morphine, Codeine, Lortab, Opiate Withdrawal, Opana, Subutex, Dilaudid, Heroin, Opana ER
Legalized Pot May Lead to More Traffic Crashes
Posted 22 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, June 22, 2017 – Although states where recreational marijuana is legal may have experienced a slight bump in traffic collisions, the good news is that there wasn't an increase in crash-related fatalities compared to other states, two new studies show. Insurance claims data show that Colorado, Washington and Oregon all experienced an increase in auto accident claims after retail marijuana sales became legal, according to research by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). But Washington and Colorado had similar rates of traffic fatalities as eight other states that haven't legalized recreational pot, an analysis of federal crash data published June 22 in the American Journal of Public Health found. The conclusions of the two separate studies don't necessarily conflict, said J.T. Griffin, chief government affairs officer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. "One of the ... Read more
Related support groups: Smoking, Cannabis, Toxic Reactions Incl Drug and Substance Abuse
Pot Plus Booze: A Deadly Mix Behind the Wheel
Posted 15 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, June 15, 2017 – Marijuana and alcohol make a terrible mix on the road, significantly increasing a driver's chances of causing a deadly crash, a new study warns. The risk of being the person to start a crash if you've used both pot and alcohol "increases by more than fivefold when compared with drivers who used neither of the substances," study author Dr. Guohua Li, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, said in a school news release. Researchers looked at data from nearly 15,000 fatal two-vehicle crashes in the United States between 1993 and 2014. Drivers who caused the crashes were much more likely than blameless drivers to test positive for alcohol (28 percent vs. 10 percent), marijuana (10 percent vs. 6 percent), or both alcohol and marijuana (4 percent vs. 1 percent). Drivers who tested positive for alcohol, marijuana or both ... Read more
Related support groups: Alcohol Dependence, Alcoholism, Hangover, Cannabis, Acute Alcohol Intoxication
Nearly 10 Million U.S. Adults Suffer From Mental Illness
Posted 12 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
MONDAY, June 12, 2017 – Nearly 10 million American adults have a serious mental illness, and a similar number have considered suicide during the past year, according to a new government report on the nation's behavioral ills. The report also said that 15.7 million Americans abuse alcohol and 7.7 million abuse illicit drugs. The nation's growing opioid epidemic was also a focus in the report. The researchers found that 12.5 million people are estimated to have misused prescription painkillers such as oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet) or hydrocodone (Vicoprofen). Despite the growing number of Americans with mental health problems, about a third of those who need help aren't getting it, said researcher Dr. Beth Han. She's from the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality at the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). "These are real increases," ... Read more
Related support groups: Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Percocet, OxyContin, Vicodin, Norco, Opiate Dependence, Lortab, Opiate Withdrawal, Smoking, Roxicodone, Drug Dependence, Alcohol Dependence, Endocet, Acetaminophen/Hydrocodone, Percocet 10/325, Vicoprofen, Substance Abuse, Alcoholism, Acetaminophen/Oxycodone
Marijuana May Make Your Gums Go to Pot
Posted 1 Jun 2017 by Drugs.com
THURSDAY, June 1, 2017 – Frequent pot smokers might be dooming themselves to diseased gums, a new study suggests. "It is well known that frequent tobacco use can increase the risk of periodontal [gum] disease, but it was surprising to see that recreational cannabis [pot] users may also be at risk," said study lead author Jaffer Shariff. He is a postdoctoral resident in periodontology at Columbia University School of Dental Medicine. For the study, Shariff's team analyzed data from nearly 2,000 Americans. Of those, 27 percent reported the use of cannabis (marijuana, hashish or hash oil) one or more times for at least 12 months. Frequent recreational cannabis users were more likely to have signs of moderate to severe gum disease than less-frequent users, the researchers found. "The recent spate of new recreational and medical marijuana laws could spell the beginning of a growing oral ... Read more
Related support groups: Smoking, Oral and Dental Conditions, Smoking Cessation, Toothache, Gingivitis, Oral Thrush, Dental Abscess, Cannabis, Periodontitis, Stomatitis, Prevention of Dental Caries
Many Teens Ride With Impaired Drivers
Posted 30 May 2017 by Drugs.com
TUESDAY, May 30, 2017 – More than one-third of Canadian high school students admit riding in cars with drivers who've been drinking alcohol. And almost 20 percent say they've ridden with someone who'd recently used marijuana, a new study reveals. "These numbers are concerning," said study author Leia Minaker, an assistant professor at Canada's University of Waterloo. "A significant proportion of car-crash deaths are related to alcohol and drug impairment." The researchers analyzed results of a 2014-15 national survey taken by 24,650 students. Based on the results, they estimate that 9 percent of students in grades 11 and 12 have driven within an hour of drinking, and more than 9 percent have driven after using marijuana. "The link between alcohol-impaired driving and collision rates is well-recognized, but the consequences of marijuana use are less clear," Minaker said. Canada wants to ... Read more
Related support groups: Alcoholism, Hangover, Cannabis, Toxic Reactions Incl Drug and Substance Abuse, Acute Alcohol Intoxication
Compound in Pot Eases Severe Form of Epilepsy
Posted 24 May 2017 by Drugs.com
WEDNESDAY, May 24, 2017 – A landmark clinical trial has shown that a compound in marijuana can ease life-threatening seizures in children with a rare and devastating form of epilepsy. Cannabidiol – a non-intoxicating chemical – reduced seizure frequency by 39 percent in patients with Dravet Syndrome, researchers report. This is the first randomized, controlled trial to show that cannabidiol (CBD) can help control seizures in some people with epilepsy, said study author Dr. Orrin Devinsky. He is director of the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "It's a big landmark in the scientific study of cannabis, and it's a major landmark in epilepsy care," Devinsky said. "After four millennia of using cannabis to treat epilepsy, we now have for the first time scientifically rigorously obtained data that this specific compound works in this specific ... Read more
Related support groups: Seizures, Epilepsy, Seizure Prevention, Seizure Prophylaxis, Cannabis
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