Using marijuana could help some alcoholics and people addicted to opioids kick their habits, a UBC Okanagan study has found.
鈥凌别蝉别补谤肠丑 suggests that people may be using cannabis as an exit drug to reduce the use of substances that are potentially more harmful, such as opioid pain 尘别诲颈肠补迟颈辞苍,鈥� said the 蝉迟耻诲测鈥檚 lead investigator Zach Walsh, an associate professor of psychology at UBC Okanagan.
This comprehensive systematic review of research on the medical cannabis use and mental health also found some evidence that cannabis may help with symptoms of depression, PTSD and social anxiety. However, the review concluded that cannabis use might not be recommended for conditions such as bipolar disorder and psychosis.
鈥泪苍 reviewing the limited evidence on medical cannabis, it appears that patients and others who have advocated for cannabis as a tool for harm reduction and mental health have some valid 辫辞颈苍迟蝉,鈥� said Walsh.
Walsh and his team systematically reviewed all studies of medical cannabis and mental health, as well as reviews on non-medical cannabis 耻蝉别鈥攎补办颈苍驳 the review one of the most comprehensive reports to date on the effects of medical cannabis on mental health.
With legalization of marijuana possible as early as next year in Canada, 颈迟鈥檚 important to identify ways to help mental health professionals move beyond stigma to better understand the risk and benefits of cannabis is increasingly important, added Walsh.
鈥淭丑别谤别 is not currently a lot of clear guidance on how mental health professionals can best work with people who are using cannabis for medical 辫耻谤辫辞蝉别蝉,鈥� he said. 鈥淲颈迟丑 the end of prohibition, telling people to simply stop using may no longer be as feasible an option. Knowing how to consider cannabis in the treatment equation will become a 苍别肠别蝉蝉颈迟测.鈥�
奥补濒蝉丑鈥檚 research was conducted with 鲍叠颁鈥檚 Michelle Thiessen, Kim Crosby and Chris Carroll; Raul Gonzalez from Florida State University; and Marcel Bonn-Miller from the National Centre for PTSD and Centre for Innovation and Implementation in California.
The study was recently published in the journal Clinical Psychology Review.
