title: Experience of adjunctive cannabis use for chronic non-cancer pain: findings from the Pain and Opioids IN Treatment (POINT) study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing debate about cannabis use for medical purposes, including for symptomatic treatment of chronic pain. We investigated patterns and correlates of cannabis use in a large community sample of people who had been prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  The POINT study included 1514 people in Australia who had been prescribed pharmaceutical opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. Data on cannabis use, ICD-10 cannabis use disorder and cannabis use for pain were collected. We explored associations between demographic, pain and other patient characteristics and cannabis use for pain.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One in six (16%) had used cannabis for pain relief, 6% in the previous month. A quarter reported that they would use it for pain relief if they had access. Those using cannabis for pain on average were younger, reported greater pain severity, greater interference from and poorer coping with pain, and more days out of role in the past year. They had been prescribed opioids for longer, were on higher opioid doses, and were more likely to be non-adherent with their opioid use. Those using cannabis for pain had higher pain interference after controlling for reported pain severity. Almost half (43%) of the sample had ever used cannabis for recreational purposes, and 12% of the entire cohort met criteria for an ICD-10 cannabis use disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cannabis use for pain relief purposes appears common among people living with chronic non-cancer pain, and users report greater pain relief in combination with opioids than when opioids are used alone.
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: l.degenhardt@unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Louisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Degenhardt
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Addiction Medicine, University of Sydney, Australia; The Langton Centre, South East Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) Drug and Alcohol Services, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lintzeris
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Australia; School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Australia.
authors.forename: Raimondo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Milton
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, University of Queensland, Australia; National Addiction Centre, Kings College, London, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Wayne D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002188:Cannabis; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064086:Medical Marijuana / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002186:Cannabinoids; D064086:Medical Marijuana
keywords: Australia; Cannabis; Chronic pain; Medical cannabis use; Pharmaceutical opioids