{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/withdrawal/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2445-markdown","title":"How Cannabis Can Break the Cycle of Opioid Abuse","slug":"how-cannabis-can-break-the-cycle-of-opioid-abuse","content":"The American opioid epidemic claims nearly a hundred lives a day to overdose deaths. The cycle of abuse and dependence affects millions more as people of all ages seek relief from chronic pain and find themselves addicted. But recent studies show that an overwhelming majority of patients seeking pain relief are able to reduce their opioid use by taking some form of cannabis—and many are able to stop taking prescription opioids altogether. New discoveries about the complex connections between the body’s receptor systems for opioids and marijuana reveal why cannabis can be a safe and effective way to break the cycle of opioid use, addiction and withdrawal.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### The State of Opioid Use in America\n\nThe United States accounts for only around 5% of the world’s population, but the country uses more than 80% of the world’s supply of opioids—powerfully addictive pain medications including oxycodone, Vicodin and morphine.\n\nThese drugs are prescribed routinely for treating pain from surgery and for other conditions like arthritis or cancer. Although in most cases they’re intended for short-term use, many people continue to take them for months or even years. And when opioid medications become too hard to get, many turn to their famous street drug cousin, heroin—a risky course that can also include exposure to additives like fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 100 times stronger than morphine. \n\n### How Opioids Work on Our Bodies & Brains\n\nOpioids exert their addictive power thanks to their strong, immediate effect on the body’s own system of opioid receptors. These cells in the brain, spine and digestive system normally respond to natural opioids produced by the body itself, such as dynorphin, enkalephin and the endorphins responsible for the well-known euphoria of a runner’s high.  \n\nOpioid receptors are highly concentrated in the brain, especially in areas responsible for modulating responses to stress; pain; and the cycle of pleasure, reward and learning that supports survival. To produce a feeling of calm and relief from pain, opioids depress the production of a key chemical called [norepinephrine](http://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/norepinephrine). This neurotransmitter activates during stressful situations, but is also responsible for maintaining essential functions in the brainstem such as wakefulness, respiration and heartbeat. An overdose of opioids can suppress these functions to the point of death.\n\n### Cannabinoid & Opioid Receptor Systems Affect Each Other\n\nAlongside the opioid receptor system is a vast network of cannabinoid receptors called the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Cannabinoid receptors are activated by natural processes that create chemicals within the body similar to cannabis, as well as by cannabis in any of its many forms. Cannabinoid receptors are found in most organs and tissues, including the same areas as opioid receptors, with one notable exception: the brainstem. That’s why an overdose of cannabis is unlikely to cause death, because there are very few cannabinoid receptors in the brainstem where your body’s essential functions are regulated.\n\nBoth opioids and marijuana activate common pathways in the brain that are related to pleasure and reward. They also affect the brain’s noradrenergic system, which is responsible for releasing norepinephrine and other chemicals related to the flight or fight response. That’s why both cannabis and opioids can produce a calming feeling.  \n\nUntil relatively recently, research on cannabis and opioids focused on the differences between the opioid and cannabinoid receptor systems to explain why both can reduce pain, but aren’t addictive in the same way. But some [newer studies suggest that these two systems may actually interact with each other](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22048225) —and that this synergy is the key to using cannabis as a way out of opioid dependence.\n\n### Marijuana Can Ease Opioid Withdrawal Symptoms\n\nWhen opioids are used in high quantities, or for long periods, they disrupt the noradrenergic system. More norepinephrine is released, but opioids suppress its expression. Then when a person stops using opioids, those high levels of norepinephrine flood the system, causing withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, chills and diarrhea. \n\nTo ease these side effects, detox and withdrawal programs usually use a combination of an opioid agonist—a chemical that binds to and activates a receptor—like buprenorphine or methadone (both opioids themselves), plus a drug such as clonidine, which suppresses norepinephrine production. Over time, many people continue to take these kinds of medications to stave off withdrawal and work on their recovery. But active compounds in marijuana may be able to break this cycle of using opioids to treat opioid dependence.\n\nRELATED: [CANNABIS: AN EXIT DRUG FOR THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59f0d5d6453ba8000f3478d6/cannabis-an-exit-drug-for-the-opioid-epidemic)\n\nOne of the body’s two cannabis receptors, CB1, occurs abundantly in areas of the brain related to noradrenergic activity. Researchers think that using cannabis compounds such as cannabidiol (CBD) may increase the production of the body’s own natural opioids. This can [make opioid drugs more effective for pain relief](https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/755388) and also moderate the release of norepinephrine thereby [reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3742578/). Not only that, but tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, may increase the release of enkephalin, which can help to stabilize activity in the brainstem during opioid withdrawal.\n\n### Cannabis: Safer and More Effective for Pain\n\nCannabis is still on the government’s highly restrictive Schedule 1 list of drugs along with heroin and other opioids. Unfortunately, this encourages the belief that these two substances are the same: equally addictive and equally harmful. But a growing body of research continues to confirm that marijuana is a safer and potentially more effective treatment for pain than opioids.\n\nIn one recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, in partnership with HelloMD, [71% of nearly 3,000 active cannabis and opioids users said that cannabis was better than opioids for pain relief](https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/06/survey-pain-patients-overwhelmingly-prefer-medical-marijuana-over-opioids/) —and 97% said that they could reduce their use of opioids if marijuana was available. These findings echo other recent research showing that a majority of patients prefer marijuana to opioids for pain relief—and new insights into the interaction between the body’s cannabinoid and opioid receptor systems may reveal why.\n\nThe differences between the two systems help explain why cannabis is safer and less addictive than prescription opioids. But it’s the unexpected connections they share that may just hold the missing key to breaking the cycle of dependence on opioid drugs.\n\nPhoto credit: [Marco Verch](https://www.flickr.com/people/149561324@N03/)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/14b42/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.jpg","srcSet":"/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/f836f/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.jpg 200w,\n/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/2244e/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.jpg 400w,\n/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/14b42/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.jpg 800w,\n/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/47498/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.jpg 1200w,\n/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/0e329/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.jpg 1600w,\n/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/69755/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.jpg 2048w","srcWebp":"/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/58556/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/61e93/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.webp 200w,\n/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/1f5c5/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.webp 400w,\n/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/58556/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.webp 800w,\n/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/99238/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.webp 1200w,\n/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/7c22d/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.webp 1600w,\n/static/752e43813e3c6cc4a8cc8c8b83110030/96ec1/e60b731c7abe38d0e00398dd333ac2fd.webp 2048w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2177-markdown","title":"Recent Study: Huge Opioid Prescription Abuse Problem","slug":"recent-study-huge-opioid-prescription-abuse-problem","content":"Opioids are currently some of the [most diagnosed drugs in\nAmerica](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2014/04/14/ban-some-pain-killers-here-are-6-common-opioids/).\nA powerful class of medications meant to treat various types of chronic\npain, opioids may *seem* like a miracle drug. Unfortunately, this\ncouldn't be further from the truth. While opioids are effective at\nknocking out pain, they're also some of the most highly addictive and\ndeadly medications currently available to American consumers. In fact,\nopioid medications are so dangerous that they accounted for upwards of\n16,000 deaths in 2009 alone. Because of these horrifying outcomes and\nthe ever-increasing rates of opioid prescriptions, American health\nprofessionals and consumers alike are on the lookout for safer, less\naddictive alternatives.\n\nThe Opioid Addiction Problem\n----------------------------\n\nRecently, Castlight Health released a report titled \"[The Opioid Crisis\nin America's\nWorkforce](http://www.castlighthealth.com/press-releases/new-study-reveals-32-percent-of-total-opioid-prescriptions-are-being-abused/)\"\nthat reveals some startling new insights into the scope of the opioid\naddiction problem. Using aggregated data from 1 million anonymized\nAmericans, the researchers found that 32 percent of all opioid\nprescriptions in America are being abused. The report also found that\n4.5 percent of people who have a current opioid prescription are abusing\nit, and that these people cost American employers an average as twice as\nmuch (approximately \\$19,450 annually) in medical expense costs as their\nopioid-free counterparts. In addition, baby boomers are nearly four\ntimes as likely to suffer from opioid abuse and addiction as\nmillennials, and patients who live in lower-income areas are twice as\nlikely to suffer from opioid abuse as individuals who live in\nhigher-income areas.\n\nWhile the results of the Castlight report are startling, they're not\nnews to health professionals. The opioid crisis has been ballooning for\nyears, and it has recently gotten so bad that the CDC has declared it a\n[public health crisis](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25581144).\nBecause of the dangerous side effects and highly addictive nature of\nopioid medications, health officials and consumers everywhere are\nactively searching for better alternatives.\n\nCannabis: A Better Way\n----------------------\n\nIn an attempt to mitigate the dangerous effects of opioid\nover-prescription, abuse and addiction, many people are turning to\ncannabis. In addition to the fact that cannabis has a long, demonstrable\nhistory of being used to treat chronic\npain,\ndozens of studies (such as this [2012\nstudy](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22880540) published in the\nJournal of Psychoactive Drugs) have found that cannabis offers fewer\nside effects than opioids and provides more therapeutic benefits than\nsynthetic medication. Recently, prominent politicians such as Elizabeth\nWarren have been [petitioning the\nCDC](http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/12/elizabeth-warren-medical-marijuana-painkiller-opioid-abuse)\nto consider medical cannabis as a supplement to or alternative for\nopioid pain medications, and states like Massachusetts have been using\ncannabis to treat patients suffering from chronic pain and opioid\naddiction. Recently, one clinic in Massachusetts [used medical\ncannabis](http://www.bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2015/10/doctors_pioneer_pot_as_an_opioid_substitute)\nto treat 80 chronic pain sufferers who were addicted to opioid\nmedication. Within a month of treatment, 75 percent of the patients had\ngiven up their opioid medication completely and the vast majority\nreported less pain. Even if cannabis doesn't entirely replace opioid\nmedication in the near future, it's clear that [cannabinoids have a\nsynergistic\neffect](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1038/clpt.2011.188/abstract)\nthat can help decrease pain while also mitigating the need for high\nlevels of opioid medications.\n\nWhile the solution to the opioid addiction crisis isn't cut-and-dry,\nit's clear that cannabis is a safe, effective alternative that can treat\nchronic pain while also preserving the health and well-being of\npatients.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamiesrabbits/5748419806/in/photolist-9KY9Wj-aZq5vn-8hUcV6-9KVkMX-8hXs3S-fQQxg6-qhBL-3iTRp-a34Eto-axdEo1-ssbbq-4UiRny-4cjHBA-5WHHQw-6d2W6N-bAuebi-axaWFn-hNn9e-8fEk4y-3b9ZiT-f1uFuv-buQdTs-zpyrgV-7V9E9q-3X849D-8bmupc-3X84Zn-q5ddL-9nrraz-9Q4xGv-5YVmP4-8hUbNz-3XcjJb-9AU6x-8hXqfU-7LHArP-3X7ZVn-K6Vr3-RDsG-8pJqZ-ok8vwv-8WrAcv-6eHN2-cQjmas-dFHZpC-3Sdoa-D3X8F-FqENz-9kC6Km-buQdCq)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.6129032258064515,"src":"/static/f5cdca97612415ba157e9272fb13aefc/ee604/c821dc4a91ad4a97adbad834f5de004a.png","srcSet":"/static/f5cdca97612415ba157e9272fb13aefc/69585/c821dc4a91ad4a97adbad834f5de004a.png 200w,\n/static/f5cdca97612415ba157e9272fb13aefc/497c6/c821dc4a91ad4a97adbad834f5de004a.png 400w,\n/static/f5cdca97612415ba157e9272fb13aefc/ee604/c821dc4a91ad4a97adbad834f5de004a.png 800w,\n/static/f5cdca97612415ba157e9272fb13aefc/00f5e/c821dc4a91ad4a97adbad834f5de004a.png 1006w","srcWebp":"/static/f5cdca97612415ba157e9272fb13aefc/58556/c821dc4a91ad4a97adbad834f5de004a.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/f5cdca97612415ba157e9272fb13aefc/61e93/c821dc4a91ad4a97adbad834f5de004a.webp 200w,\n/static/f5cdca97612415ba157e9272fb13aefc/1f5c5/c821dc4a91ad4a97adbad834f5de004a.webp 400w,\n/static/f5cdca97612415ba157e9272fb13aefc/58556/c821dc4a91ad4a97adbad834f5de004a.webp 800w,\n/static/f5cdca97612415ba157e9272fb13aefc/7f866/c821dc4a91ad4a97adbad834f5de004a.webp 1006w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2143-markdown","title":"New Guidance on Opiates for Chronic Pain: But There Is a Solution","slug":"new-guidance-on-opiates-for-chronic-pain-but-there-is-a-solution","content":"Each day, [about 40 Americans](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/03/15/cdc-issues-new-guidelines-opiate-prescribing-reduce-abuse-overdoses/81809704/) die from prescription painkiller overdoses. A medicine designed to help patients deal with pain from illnesses and injuries has turned into something more dangerous than health experts ever anticipated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to [25% of people](https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/overdose.html) who receive prescription opioids for non-cancer-related primary care become addicted to the substance, with drugs like methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone being the most commonly abused.\r\n\r\nThe statistics are alarming and frightening. Finally, the medical industry is taking steps to curb the opioid addiction epidemic. The CDC is urging doctors and health professionals to be very cautious when prescribing painkillers and recommends they avoid it altogether for certain patients’ chronic pain treatment.\r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en) \r\n\r\n### What Does the New Opioids Guidance Mean for Patients?\r\n\r\nWith the exception of those receiving end-of-life treatment or cancer care, doctors are now advised to, if possible, simply not prescribe opiates to patients with chronic pain or those suffering from injuries. Although the CDC recognizes that there are some situations in which the benefits of opioids outweigh the risks, current [CDC guidelines](https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/guideline_infographic-a.pdf) recommend that doctors try other drugs, such as anti-inflammatories, as first-line treatments before prescribing opiates for pain relief. The CDC also recommends starting with a low dose of opioids and building up to a dose that’s effective at relieving pain, rather than immediately prescribing a high dose.\r\n\r\nMany in the medical industry believe that the risk of opioid addiction outweighs the benefit of temporary pain relief. After all, the numbers don't lie; painkillers are deadly and are currently abused by [nearly two million people](https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/painkillers-fuel-growth-in-drug-addiction). There’s no reason to risk the lives of patients just so they can be more comfortable.\r\n\r\nThough doctors are under no legal obligation to follow such directives, what the CDC says carries a great deal of weight in the health care industry, and this instruction will undoubtedly lead to a significant reduction in prescriptions for painkillers to manage chronic pain.\r\n\r\nHowever, the directive does add that, when benefits are greater than risks, it's OK to prescribe opiates. Health professionals are strongly advised to talk to patients about using the painkiller and identify the potential of a substance abuse disorder. Exploring alternatives, such as holistic therapies, exercise and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine, such as aspirin, is another option.\r\n\r\n### Could Medical Marijuana Be a Better Solution Than Opioids?\r\n\r\nJust because doctors won't be prescribing painkillers as much doesn't mean people have to struggle through life. In addition to exercising, eating well and using holistic healing measures, medical marijuana represents a capable and safe alternative to painkillers.\r\n\r\nStereotypes surrounding the drug may turn some folks in the health care industry off, but research is proving that patients benefit from the use of this medicinal plant. Specifically, a comprehensive study undertaken by HelloMD of a community of patients using medical marijuana revealed very promising results on the effectiveness of marijuana as a medicine. Eighty-four percent of [survey respondents](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf) claim that medical marijuana is extremely effective in relieving their symptoms. Many also reported using the drug to treat other health symptoms, including anxiety, insomnia, nausea, mental health disorders and stress.\r\n\r\n### Medical Marijuana Is Effective at Treating Chronic Pain Symptoms\r\n\r\nPatients are using medical marijuana for a variety of reasons and are reporting excellent results. The survey by HelloMD found that 84% of patients using medical marijuana said that cannabis offered them relief from their symptoms. As well, very few reported negative consequences when using cannabis for medicinal purposes. In fact, 96% of respondents said they’d recommend it to a family member, friend or colleague in need. In short, patients see improvement when they use medical cannabis, with little to no side effects or other issues. That can't be said for prescription painkillers, which—as the research proves—leads to a high rate of addiction and many deaths.\r\n\r\n### You Don’t Have to Smoke Medical Marijuana \r\n\r\nSome may be turned off by the fact that marijuana is traditionally ingested by smoking the plant, but that isn't the only method of ingestion. HelloMD discovered that many women and older people, for instance, preferred topical creams and fragrance products. Younger males, on the other hand, chose to smoke and vape. Folks in the industry are inventing new ways to take cannabis every day—with edibles, tinctures, oils and capsules—to suit any preference; patients aren't forced to inhale. Additionally, doses can be adjusted to meet individual needs.\r\n\r\n### Medical Marijuana Won’t Lead to Overdoses\r\n\r\nUnlike opioids, it’s very hard to overdose on medical marijuana. In fact, it has [never been shown](http://www.drugwarfacts.org/chapter/overdose#%20sthash.SjSqCr2X.dpbs) that marijuana alone has caused an overdose. Overdose amounts suggested by some scientists are so high that it would be impossible for anyone to take that much. Hence, cannabis is a safe solution.\r\n\r\nOpioid overdoses tragically claim many lives. They also pose huge costs to ER departments, who must administer emergency treatments to quickly counteract the effects of the drugs taken. Reducing the rate of overdose could therefore have many important benefits for society.\r\n\r\nFor those suffering with chronic pain, finding a safe and effective way to improve overall well-being is a priority. The danger of prescription painkillers is all too real. Medical marijuana has been shown to be [safer than alcohol and tobacco](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56e884c21e4e2b000800001a/marijuana-is-safer-than-alcohol-and-tobacco-study-finds)—two completely legal substances. Additionally, marijuana carries [little risk of dependence](https://www.healthline.com/health-news/marijuana-addiction-rare-but-real-072014), a characteristic other drugs can't claim.\r\n\r\nSimply put, if health care professionals want a worthy and safe alternative to prescription opioids, the solution is to go green. Go for medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nPhoto Credit: [Army Medicine](https://www.flickr.com/people/armymedicine/)\r\n\r\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5625,"src":"/static/b40a2f7e82f7297c783a5024c6ccd8f2/ee604/bb758e88491eda5f0cd1fecd7a3d97fc.png","srcSet":"/static/b40a2f7e82f7297c783a5024c6ccd8f2/69585/bb758e88491eda5f0cd1fecd7a3d97fc.png 200w,\n/static/b40a2f7e82f7297c783a5024c6ccd8f2/497c6/bb758e88491eda5f0cd1fecd7a3d97fc.png 400w,\n/static/b40a2f7e82f7297c783a5024c6ccd8f2/ee604/bb758e88491eda5f0cd1fecd7a3d97fc.png 800w,\n/static/b40a2f7e82f7297c783a5024c6ccd8f2/50562/bb758e88491eda5f0cd1fecd7a3d97fc.png 1198w","srcWebp":"/static/b40a2f7e82f7297c783a5024c6ccd8f2/58556/bb758e88491eda5f0cd1fecd7a3d97fc.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/b40a2f7e82f7297c783a5024c6ccd8f2/61e93/bb758e88491eda5f0cd1fecd7a3d97fc.webp 200w,\n/static/b40a2f7e82f7297c783a5024c6ccd8f2/1f5c5/bb758e88491eda5f0cd1fecd7a3d97fc.webp 400w,\n/static/b40a2f7e82f7297c783a5024c6ccd8f2/58556/bb758e88491eda5f0cd1fecd7a3d97fc.webp 800w,\n/static/b40a2f7e82f7297c783a5024c6ccd8f2/5ae49/bb758e88491eda5f0cd1fecd7a3d97fc.webp 1198w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2044-markdown","title":"Can Marijuana Help Solve the Heroin & Prescription Opioid Crisis?","slug":"can-marijuana-help-solve-the-heroin-and-prescription-opioid-crisis","content":"Heroin and prescription opioid addiction is hitting record numbers in the U.S. We largely treat these addictions with more opiates like methadone and Suboxone. But The Open Neurology Journal cites studies saying medical marijuana helps with chronic pain, but can also control nausea and vomiting.\n\nHeroin and prescription opioid [addiction to drugs like OxyContin and Vicodin is hitting record\nnumbers in the United States](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/10/30/us/31heroin-deaths.html?_r=1). The medical community has largely attempted to treat these addictions—as well as counter the negative effects of opiate withdrawal—with more opioids such as methadone and Suboxone.  \n\nBut an article published in _The Open Neurology Journal_ mentions [numerous studies that found medical marijuana not only helps with chronic pain management, but can also control nausea and vomiting](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358713/)—typical withdrawal symptoms when stopping the use of heroin and opiates. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Opioid Overdoses in Every State\n\nThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a study about the epidemic of drug overdose deaths in America, and the statistics were startling. Every state has been affected and almost every county in the country has seen an [increase in drug overdose deaths](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/heroin-overdose-deaths-double-in-u-s/). Between 2012 and 2014, the number of heroin overdoses doubled in the U.S. The increase is attributed to addiction to narcotic painkillers.\n\nThese numbers aren't just affecting certain areas. [New Hampshire, West Virginia and other states with large blue-collar worker populations have also experienced record numbers of rising opiate addiction](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/07/us/drug-overdose-deaths-in-the-us.html). Workplace injuries have also been contributing to increasing opioid addiction in the working class.\n\nThe rise in deaths mirrors levels of the HIV epidemic at its height in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2014, [opioid use accounted for 61% of\ndeaths in the U.S.](http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/01/07/us/drug-overdose-deaths-in-the-us.html) In order to stem the tide of prescription drug abuse, new legislation has been introduced in an attempt to control prescribing practices. However, as [prescription painkillers became less available, addicts turned to heroin](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/11/health/prescription-painkillers-seen-as-a-gateway-to-heroin.html).\n\n### How Narcotic Addiction Affects the Brain & Body\n\nDrug addiction alters the physical composition of the brain. Narcotic addiction, in particular, rewires the circuits in the brain responsible for reward, consequence determination and mood. With this change in wiring, the brain is no longer capable of functioning without the help of the opioid drug. If the addicted person tries to abstain from heroin or other prescription opioids, they experience symptoms of opiate withdrawal such as:\n\n* anxiety and agitation\n* body aches\n* chills\n* craving the drug\n* vomiting\n* diarrhea\n* nausea\n\nThese opioid withdrawal symptoms can increase in severity, lasting a few hours to a few days. And, if the addiction began as a result of using drugs for chronic pain, withdrawal symptoms can worsen as the pain from the condition plus the pain of withdrawal intensify. \n\n### Prescription Attempts at Recovery from Opiate Addiction & Withdrawal\n\n[The common medical practice for treating opioid addiction is to prescribe more drugs](https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/breaking-an-addiction-to-painkillers-treatment-overvew#1) to mask the opiate withdrawal symptoms. \n\nAfter the initial withdrawal period ends, maintenance drugs are prescribed. Methadone, naltrexone, Suboxone and other medications are used to deter abuse, but none of them completely end the addiction process, keep withdrawal symptoms from occurring, or heal the connections in the brain.\n\n### How Medical Marijuana Can Help End the Cycle of Opioid Addiction\n\nWhile most of the methadone-based treatments prescribed in the treatment of heroin and opiate addiction can produce the same kinds of highs—as well as addictions—created by the drugs themselves, cannabis can treat addiction without the resulting euphoric feelings. Of the 400 or more chemical compounds in cannabis, only tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produces a high. Many forms of cannabis can be grown and processed without this factor, which makes marijuana even safer to treat addiction than other drugs are.\n\nRELATED: [CANNABIS AS AN EXIT DRUG FOR THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59f0d5d6453ba8000f3478d6/cannabis-an-exit-drug-for-the-opioid-epidemic)\n\nIn addition, the body contains the [endocannabinoid system (ECS), a natural system for healing itself through decreasing inflammation and pain while increasing immunity](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5751cbd970410e000b00003a/what-is-the-endocannabinoid-system). It works in a very similar way to the cannabinoids in medical marijuana.\n\nThrough proper use, cannabis supports the ECS and can actually rewire the brain, unlike methadone treatments which merely block chemical transmission while it's in use. This means that once the person stops taking methadone, the brain hasn't healed and will still seek satisfaction through cravings for heroin or other opiates. Cannabis, on the other hand, changes the composition of the brain so the cravings are no longer present.\n\nNot only does the use of medical marijuana promote the body's natural healing systems, it helps correct the underlying disease. Instead of masking or creating side effects, medical marijuana can be a real solution in combatting the problem of heroin and opiate addiction—and subsequently, opiate withdrawal.\n\nPhoto credit: [Wil Taylor](https://www.flickr.com/photos/subsetsum/3731217400/in/photolist-6FHsWu-9jkyup-nbdfPZ-5jpRT6-856TZo-cQay4s-aLtXLx-5APYay-vCqoHd-vCyVYH-eTpA1X-whPxFy-gAdTrV-qKZk9-7MhkvW-hNn9e-9uLbiZ-N65ak-f1uFuv-eaVHvf-4dacbb-4DyRuj-3PEmnc-bmQdtg-ev2AR5-635Ju-osGDv4-3Sdoa-dp5X6i-akWZuQ-yA6b-7ZvsBd-8QoWTf-f1tdQ9-cWsdNy-6yLQZz-cHhoMy-8FBhKR-8WrAcv-ar8jW-9xD73c-9uK5fi-6NFKz2-bytook-9i77ZQ-9skioK-eYbToQ-7e7VkF-4tuPZN-9sVyYA)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  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