Cannabis shows promise as a more natural treatment for a variety of diseases and disorders. However, like many supplements and medications, it does not come without the risk of side effects. The most common side effects reported are mild to moderate dizziness, drowsiness, and dry mouth (Savage et al., 2016). Cannabis may also cause mental, motor, and emotional disturbances that generally last three to eight hours after consuming cannabis (Savage et al., 2016). Addiction occurs in about 9% to 17% of users depending on the age at which they started using cannabis with those that started younger being more susceptible (Savage et al., 2016). When used during pregnancy, cannabis has been shown to potentially cause neurodevelopmental changes
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Though it has been used for centuries, there have been no reported overdoses or deaths resulting from cannabis (Mathre, 2002). Comparatively, alcohol, street drugs, prescription drugs, and even OTC medications are the cause of multiple deaths each year in the United States (Mathre, 2002). While smoking cannabis has shown increases in lung disease, there are multiple forms of cannabis, including pills, oils, sprays, eye drops, and salves that can be used to avoid this risk (Mathre, 2002). Acute mental disturbances may occur when cannabis is used, but no long term cognitive decline has been noted even in chronic cannabis users (Mathre, 2002). Though the use of cannabis does come with these safety concerns the benefits patients receive from cannabis use often makes outweighs the potential …show more content…
Every day approximately 115 people die in the United States due to the abuse of prescription pain medication, heroin and other illicit drugs. (Nation Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA], 2018) Between 21 to 29 percent of chronic pain patients taking opioids will misuse them, and between 8 and 12 percent will develop an opioid addiction (NIDA, 2018). Statistics also show that 4 to 6 percent of the people who misuse prescription opioids will eventually try heroin and roughly 80% of heroin users report that their addiction started with prescription opioids (NIDA,
Though it has been used for centuries, there have been no reported overdoses or deaths resulting from cannabis (Mathre, 2002). Comparatively, alcohol, street drugs, prescription drugs, and even OTC medications are the cause of multiple deaths each year in the United States (Mathre, 2002). While smoking cannabis has shown increases in lung disease, there are multiple forms of cannabis, including pills, oils, sprays, eye drops, and salves that can be used to avoid this risk (Mathre, 2002). Acute mental disturbances may occur when cannabis is used, but no long term cognitive decline has been noted even in chronic cannabis users (Mathre, 2002). Though the use of cannabis does come with these safety concerns the benefits patients receive from cannabis use often makes outweighs the potential …show more content…
Every day approximately 115 people die in the United States due to the abuse of prescription pain medication, heroin and other illicit drugs. (Nation Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA], 2018) Between 21 to 29 percent of chronic pain patients taking opioids will misuse them, and between 8 and 12 percent will develop an opioid addiction (NIDA, 2018). Statistics also show that 4 to 6 percent of the people who misuse prescription opioids will eventually try heroin and roughly 80% of heroin users report that their addiction started with prescription opioids (NIDA,