Many people who use cannabis for medical reasons are seeking pain relief. Medical cannabis is currently used as an “off label” pain treatment without Food and Drug Administration approval. Some people believe cannabis is a natural herb that is safe to use, but some researchers are finding risks that may be associated with the daily use of cannabis. In this “the Informed Patient” episode, two Upstate researchers share their work that was published in The American Journal of Addictions, showing that daily cannabis use may make chronic pain worse over time by reducing pain tolerance, so that people who use cannabis daily may be risking addiction without long-term benefit for chronic pain. Brian Johnson, MD, is a clinical professor emeritus of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and the recently retired director of addiction medicine at Upstate, and Yanli Zhang-James, MD/PhD, is a research associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.
“The Informed Patient” is a podcast that covers health, science and medicine, featuring experts from Central New York’s only academic medical center. Upstate Medical University has four colleges (Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions and Graduate Studies); a robust research enterprise; and an extensive clinical health care system that extends way beyond Syracuse.
For more information, please visit: https://www.upstate.edu/informed/
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