Medical Marijuana May Not Be a Good Option for Treatment of Chronic Pain in Teens

With the approval in 18 states in the U.S. of smoked marijuana for treatment of medical conditions including pain, I have often wondered about the negative effects of marijuana use on those being prescribed the drug, knowing, as I do, that marijuana is not a benign drug, has serious side effects, and that individuals who use marijuana over time may develop physical dependence on, and, in some cases, addiction (or "cannabis use disorder" per the new DSM-5) to the drug. Although not a scientific research study, ScienceDaily, on June 17, 2013, reported on a case study included in a Commentary in the July issue of the medical journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings that "While medical marijuana may help some specific conditions, its adverse effects, even with short-term use, can include fatigue, impaired concentration and slower reaction times." The report stated:

"The researchers describe the cases of three high school-age patients at Mayo Clinic's pediatric chronic pain clinic who said they used marijuana regularly. Pain worsened for all three despite their marijuana use. None attended school full time; they reported impaired functioning and difficulty becoming more socially active. [Continuing the quote] *** excessive doses of marijuana may induce symptoms that many chronic pain patients already experience, including dizziness, anxiety, sedation, fatigue, decreased reflexes, confusion, difficulty concentrating and a lack of motivation *** Marijuana use before age 16 has been linked to earlier development of psychosis in susceptible patients; smoking marijuana more than once a week has been connected to persistent cognitive damage in adolescents, the authors say. An estimated 1 in 10 marijuana users becomes addicted, and people under 25 are more susceptible to that." ***

"If you will not work on your life until your pain is gone, then you're probably going to be stuck for a very long time, because the kinds of chronic pain that show up in pain clinics tend to not ever completely go away," *** "They tend to be managed. People have to learn to get on with their lives even despite the pain."

In other words, a quick fix using a drug such as marijuana for relief of chronic pain, may not be possible, and, indeed, the marijuana use may perpetuate dysfunction in those who use it. As always, comments are welcomed. Jan Edward Williams, 06/18/2013.