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Similar to MMJ Viable WV Policy
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MMJ Viable WV Policy
- 1. | References cited above available by request Establishing a Well-Regulated Medical Marijuana Dispensary System is a Viable Policy Option to Reduce the Epidemic of Heroin Use in West Virginia The demographics and magnitude of the use of heroin and opioid pain relievers (OPRs) in West Virginia has changed dramatically in the last several decades. This is due to many factors, most notably the widespread availability and abuse of prescription OPRs (e.g. OxyContin) from the mid-90s until 2010, when a reformulated, tamper-resistant OxyContin was brought to the market (Cicero et al 2012). Since that time, evidence has shown that many OPR abusers transitioned to heroin due to its more appealing “high,” lower cost and increased availability (Cicero et al 2014). Nationally, overdose death, drug sales and admissions for substance abuse treatment for opioids rose in lock step from 1999-2010 (see chart). Much of this was fueled specifically by OPRs, and following reformulation of these still-important pain medications, overdose deaths from OPRs dropped in 28 states (Rudd et al 2014). During this same time (2010-2012), these states experienced a massive increase in heroin overdose deaths. While WV did not contribute data this study, neighboring states such as KY and OH experienced an increase of 280-300%. From 2007 to 2013, NC documented a gradual shift to more heroin deaths and less OPR deaths, with deaths among younger users becomingly increasingly more common (Dasgupta et al 2014). According to most recent data, WV leads the nation in drug overdoses at just over 34 deaths per 100,000 residents. Dr. Marcus Bachhuber, a doctor and researcher at the Montefiore Medical Center (NY), recently published two first-of-a-kind research papers. The first paper found that states that enacted medical marijuana laws between 1999 and 2010 saw an average decreases of <25% in mean annual overdose deaths (Bachhuber et al 2014). Close scrutiny of this paper reveals an effect that is found to strengthen over time with potentially 45-50% decreases in annual deaths by Year 5 following enactment. The second paper reported the results of the first-ever national survey regarding public views on OPR abuse and found that the over 1,100 respondents ranked this as serious as gun violence, alcohol and tobacco use (Barry et al 2015). An even more recent, well-conducted study confirmed these findings and provided the most powerful evidence to date (see chart). This study found that those states that enacted legal protections for dispensaries had lower treatment admissions, lower mortality and lower opioid distribution (Powell et al 2015). These states have clearly slowed down their respective opioid epidemics through providing controlled access to safer and higher-quality medicine from businesses who prefer to operate in a stable and predictable market, free from legal issues. Their data show that not only does (self-reported) recreational OPR use decrease but also suggest that OPR users switch to medical marijuana when dispensaries are available, as these facilities are associated with greater access to higher-quality medicine. (Pacula et al 2015). As a public health policy, marijuana is much preferable to OPRs due its much lower abuse potential and near-zero chance of “overdose,” in those cases where it is indicated (Hall and Pacula 2003). Establishing a well- regulated medical marijuana market that is anchored by dispensaries afforded legal protection by the state is a viable part of any state’s approach to the opioid epidemic.