As opioid-related overdose deaths across the nation continue to mount at an alarming rate, a new study offers some hope for those states where marijuana is legal. A study has shown that cannabis-legal states are seeing a decrease in demand for one dangerous opioid – codeine.
This well-known pain reliever, often prescribed to reduce coughing, is a narcotic analgesic and frequently used as a recreational drug with a high potential for misuse.
According to the study published in Health Economics on Jan. 18th, there’s been a notable reduction in pharmacy-based codeine distribution in states with adult-use marijuana programs, writes Cornell Chronicle.
Why Is This Important?
In 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency. What led to it? According to the HHS, in the late 1990s pharma giants such as Purdue Pharma convinced the medical community …