Medical Marijuana Laws, Marijuana Use, and Opioid-Related Outcomes among Women in the United States.
Journal
Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health
ISSN: 1878-4321
Titre abrégé: Womens Health Issues
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 9101000
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Historique:
received:
15
11
2019
revised:
14
09
2020
accepted:
18
09
2020
pubmed:
19
10
2020
medline:
5
1
2021
entrez:
18
10
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
In the context of the opioid epidemic, a limited but growing body of literature has found state medical marijuana laws (MMLs) to be associated with lower levels of opioid prescribing. However, robust evidence linking state MMLs with individual-level opioid-related outcomes is lacking, particularly among women. This finding is especially true for pregnant and parenting women, who have been disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis. Using data drawn from the 2002-2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Heath, the study uses a difference-in-differences estimation strategy to compare opioid-related outcomes (opioid misuse initiation, opioid misuse in the past month and past year, and opioid use disorder) among all women, pregnant women, and parenting women in states with and without MMLs (before and after implementation). The study also investigates the impact of MMLs on marijuana use and marijuana use disorder. The findings indicate that MMLs were not associated with opioid misuse, opioid misuse initiation, or opioid use disorder among all women, pregnant women, and parenting women. These laws were, however, positively correlated with marijuana use and marijuana use disorder among all women and women with children. In addition, MMLs were associated with an increase in the frequency of opioid misuse for pregnant women and a decrease in the frequency of opioid misuse for parenting women. This finding suggests that, although medical marijuana may be viewed by some as a substitute for opioid analgesics, MMLs may not be an effective policy tool to tackle the opioid epidemic among women, especially pregnant and parenting women.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
In the context of the opioid epidemic, a limited but growing body of literature has found state medical marijuana laws (MMLs) to be associated with lower levels of opioid prescribing. However, robust evidence linking state MMLs with individual-level opioid-related outcomes is lacking, particularly among women. This finding is especially true for pregnant and parenting women, who have been disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis.
METHODS
Using data drawn from the 2002-2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Heath, the study uses a difference-in-differences estimation strategy to compare opioid-related outcomes (opioid misuse initiation, opioid misuse in the past month and past year, and opioid use disorder) among all women, pregnant women, and parenting women in states with and without MMLs (before and after implementation). The study also investigates the impact of MMLs on marijuana use and marijuana use disorder.
RESULTS
The findings indicate that MMLs were not associated with opioid misuse, opioid misuse initiation, or opioid use disorder among all women, pregnant women, and parenting women. These laws were, however, positively correlated with marijuana use and marijuana use disorder among all women and women with children. In addition, MMLs were associated with an increase in the frequency of opioid misuse for pregnant women and a decrease in the frequency of opioid misuse for parenting women.
CONCLUSIONS
This finding suggests that, although medical marijuana may be viewed by some as a substitute for opioid analgesics, MMLs may not be an effective policy tool to tackle the opioid epidemic among women, especially pregnant and parenting women.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33069561
pii: S1049-3867(20)30101-8
doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.09.003
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Analgesics, Opioid
0
Medical Marijuana
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
24-30Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.