It’s no secret that chronic pain is prevalent in industrialized nations, and despite the horrific effects, opioids are still commonly prescribed for relief. This study, published in 2019 in the journal Postgraduate Medicine, evaluated what effect CBD-rich, full hemp (marijuana, cannabis) extract would have on quality of life and opioid consumption.
97 patients who were between 30-65 years of age, who had chronic pain and been on opioids for at least one year completed the 8 week study, with information being gathered at the beginning and again at 4 and 8 weeks. Improvement results were monitored via four indices: pain disability, pain intensity and interference, sleep quality, and a patient health questionnaire.
By using the CBD-rich hemp extract, 53% of the patients were able to reduce or eliminate their opioid use within 8 weeks. Additionally, 94% reported quality of life improvements, and there was a trend toward improvement in the pain disability and health questionnaire categories.
The authors concluded that among those already using opiates, CBD could significantly reduce use and improve sleep quality.
