Opioid Addiction Treatment Negatively Impacted by Cannabis Use

Cannabis use was associated with increased pain, depression, and anxiety symptoms among patients receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction, according to the findings of a recent study.

The study included 150 adults who were receiving MAT and attending 1 of 2 opioid treatment programs. Participants completed a survey that measured pain, depression, anxiety, self-efficacy, and cannabis use.

Cannabis use was found to moderate the relationship between depression, anxiety, and pain, and this association grew stronger as the frequency of cannabis use increased. However, cannabis use was not a significant moderator when the researchers adjusted for self-efficacy.

“Results suggest that cannabis use strengthens, rather than weakens, the relationship between pain and depression and pain and anxiety. These effects appear to be driven by decreased self-efficacy in cannabis users,” the researchers concluded. “It is important to understand how self-efficacy can be improved through symptom self-management interventions and whether self-efficacy can improve distressing symptoms for people in MAT.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Wilson M, Gogulskid HY, Cuttler C, et al. Cannabis use moderates the relationship between pain and negative affect in adults with opioid use disorder. Addictive Behaviors. 2018; 77: 225-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.10.012.