Cannabis Laws Impacts Drinking Substance Abuse

Marijuana has become legalized in thirty- nine states and has become widely used for medical and health conditions. Policies for marijuana have been ever changing and law makers are concerned with the adverse effects of legalizing marijuana. Although marijuana assists with these medical and health conditions, there are serious events that can happen that can lead to substance abuse and using gateway drugs. A literature review has uncovered evidence-based research that cannabis use can carry-over and can lead to opioid substance abuse. A 2018 study showed individuals who experienced pain and used cannabis were more likely to abuse non- medical opioid use (Mark Olson, 2018). Additionally, the results remained the same over time. The study also stated

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the interchangeable effects of using one or the other, which would lead to the individual abusing both. Over the years, there has been an alarming rate of opioid substance abuse and the number of  prescribed people in the country has reached over two million people in the United States (Mark Olson, 2018). Opioid abuse has been a public health issue and has reached to 47,000 lives taken due to unintentional drug overdose (Mark Olson, 2018). Furthermore, as cannabis has become more legalized there is growing attention towards cannabis to offset opioid use, but there are limited studies that provide evidence to this matter that cannabis use decreases opioid use. “Moreover, epidemiological research suggests that cannabis may actually increase the risk of other drug use disorders including opioids” (Mark Olson, 2018). An Australian study provided evidence-based research that cannabis abuse is likely to be more exposed to other drug use disorders (Mark Olson, 2018). Overall, studies have concluded that cannabis use was strongly associated with onset use prescription drug use and opioid disorder (Mark Olson, 2018). 

Cannabis Laws Impacts Drinking Substance Abuse 

Research had been conducted to study the correlation between cannabis use and alcohol abuse and what the potential results related to alcohol. A study conducted in 2016 showed the outcomes associated with marijuana, legalization, non-medical, and recreational drugs (Katarina Guttmannova, 2016). This can escalade to public “health concerns because they can have repercussions not just for marijuana use and consequences of alcohol, and other substances” (Katarina Guttmannova, 2016). “Alcohol use has consumed our country and 88,000 deaths per year and the cost to the state is 2.9 billion dollars (about $9 per person in the US)” (Katarina Guttmannova, 2016). Furthermore, individuals who are using cannabis and alcohol interchangeably, are at more risk of getting into accidents (Katarina Guttmannova, 2016). For many years, alcohol and marijuana have been the two of the most used substances in the United States (Katarina Guttmannova, 2016). Evidence- based research has found that if that

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cannabis prices are lower than alcohol prices then individuals will purchase marijuana, but if prices for alcohol are cheaper than marijuana, the individual will buy alcohol. Additionally, the research shows that both substances are not used without the other and if prices fluctuated, an individual would purchase what is cheaper (Katarina Guttmannova, 2016). This substitute hypothesis is consistent with findings from some econometric studies that policies designed to limit alcohol use, such as those that increase the minimum legal drinking age or raise alcohol tax rates, have the unintended consequence of increasing the prevalence of marijuana use” (Katarina Guttmannova, 2016). Both substances can have effects on the individual that can cause the person to use both substances and can cause adverse cognitive affects which could lead to increased use of alcohol. In comparison to these studies, there has been research that has proven that there has been a decrease in alcohol related accidents but an increase of cannabis related emergency room visits (Katarina Guttmannova, 2016). Another study that was concluded also proved that teens that live in states where cannabis is legalized are less likely to engage with alcohol use (Katarina Guttmannova, 2016). An additional study that was conducted, took statistics from “traffic fatalities and alcohol consumption in fifteen states, including the Fatal accident Repot System” and results have proven that traffic related deaths that pertains to alcohol have decreased. Three hundred and fifty-two adults were examined, and reports found that forty percent of adults who make dispensary visits, reported that they have decreased their alcohol intake because the side effects of drinking alcohol, decreased withdrawal effects, better management skills, and decrease in opioid abuse. Overall, there needs to be additional research provided with everchanging cannabis laws and the outcome of alcohol consumption. Furthermore, there needs to be research provided for different age groups, cultures, sex, socioeconomic status, and race.  

References

Katarina Guttmannova, C. M. (2016, January). Impacts of Changing Marijuana Policies on Alcohol Use in the United Staes. National Library of Medicine(1), 33-46. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4700545/

Mark Olson, M. M.-M.-L. (2018, January 1). Cannabis Use and Risk of Prescription Opioid Use Disorder in the United States. National Library of Medicine, 1(175), 47-53. Retrieved from Cannabis Use and Risk of Prescription Opiod Use Disorder in the United States: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4700545/