Addressing crisis
Can cannabis curb opioid abuse?
Between the headlines and news segments, it’s difficult to ignore the opioid abuse crisis that has swept across the United States. According to the CDC, in 2013 Arkansas recorded just over 300 deaths attributed to an opioid overdose—a figure that grew to nearly 400 by 2015.
But the true toll of this epidemic is predicted to be much higher, because opioid-related deaths can be misinterpreted by coroners. An especially vulnerable demographic is senior citizens, who receive as much as 40 percent of the opioid prescriptions in the country. The symptoms of substance abuse often go unnoticed in senior citizens, as pre-existing conditions like Alzheimer’s can mask the signs. Caregivers and doctors can easily misattribute the depression, anxiety, and disorientation associated with opioid abuse in seniors to advanced age.
And opioid use is far from stagnant. In 2012, Arkansas prescribed the eighth-most opioid prescriptions in this country, and between 2006 and 2012, emergency officials across the country recorded a 78 percent increase in opioid emergencies. These statistics were highest among older persons in the South.
CareLink, a local nonprofit, exists to meet the needs of homebound older people, active older people and family caregivers in Central Arkansas. We provide information and resources to homebound older people who are looking for the services they need to stay in their own home, active older people who want to stay healthy and involved, and caregivers who need to navigate the maze of services available for their loved ones. From delivering meals on wheels to home health care, our volunteers and trained medical professionals provide daily services to the aging population of Arkansas.
CareLink knows that our elderly population is utilizing opioid prescriptions at an alarming rate. And from firsthand experience, we understand the side effects of these drugs include confusion, lethargy, and unsteadiness that can increase the likelihood of a senior to experience a debilitating fall, pneumonia, and other potentially mortal issues.
The statistics available are not representative of the extent of the opioid addiction crisis in seniors and the untimely deaths that addiction causes. Nor do they capture the secondary effects that addiction has on family members and friends. Arkansas is facing a major issue today that, if unaddressed, may be responsible for an expensive and deadly crisis as the baby boomer generation ages.
However, there are preventative measures on the horizon that can play a major role in preventing new cases of opioid abuse. When the voters passed medical cannabis laws in Arkansas, CareLink cautiously looked at the regulations put forth by the state’s Medical Marijuana Commission. Keeping the health-care needs of our clients at the forefront, our staff wanted to know if medical marijuana products could help the population we serve without negative consequences.
Research has shown that with careful education and partnership with health-care professionals, medical cannabis has the potential to decrease reliance on dangerous opioids. It also has the ability to counter side effects of other prescriptions, including suppression of appetite, which is crucial to overall energy level and immune system function.
Like many Arkansans, CareLink was initially concerned about the implementation of the law, who would grow and manufacture cannabis products, and how these products would be distributed to patients. The “Wild West”-style markets of California and Colorado prioritize profits over the health and safety of citizens. I am pleased to say, however, that our Legislature implemented key safeguards into the program and that state entities like the Arkansas Department of Health and Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control have shown immense due diligence to protect Arkansans through a meticulous, meritbased licensure system.
In part because of the work of these bodies, and with the best interests of aging Arkansans in mind, CareLink was willing to partner with a local company seeking to operate a medical marijuana facility. While contacted by many prospective groups, we choose to align ourselves with an all-Arkansas group dedicated to the health of our population. A group that placed an emphasis on research and education over profit and power. We are proud of this partnership and know that they can help us better our mission.
While the Medical Marijuana Commission awards licenses across the state, I hope they too take the time to review each applicant’s true goals. I hope commissioners are able to see through the greed of out-of-state investors seeking to make a quick buck off our most vulnerable populations— the sick and aging.
Selecting applicants that truly want to make a positive difference in this state is necessary to keep this program centered on health care and advancing Arkansas. We must prevent it from falling into the hands of those that prey on the sick by treating this like some drug to peddle on the street.