“Providing safe, effective and therapeutic care for our senior citizens and adequate end of life care for hospice patients is the hallmark of a successful healthcare system and compassionate society. Further investigation into cannabis and cannabinoids for the elderly population is a vital responsibility for the medical community and its healthcare providers.
The elderly population, steadily increasing in numbers, is the demographic with the highest prevalence of disease and suffering (Parker et al., 1997). The need for adequate care and allocation of resources to treat this diverse population presenting with an even more diverse palette of pathologies is a critical one.
Elderly patients typically consume a large amount of prescription drugs, all with varying risk and side effect profiles.
The safety profile of cannabis next to some of the other drugs used isn’t even comparable when considering fatalities from opioids alone.
Why restrict access to cannabis if it is beneficial for elderly and it improves their quality of life? Ber-sala, in his study, states that cannabis-induced relief of symptoms may in part be due to its euphoriant properties. He points out that, ‘from a medical point of view, the general improvement in the level of distress is important as an end-point for palliative studies, and the cause is less important.’
There is no doubt that the use of potent narcotics such as morphine and hydromorphine create powerful and potentially addicting “highs” as well, but their use is often times warranted in this situation.
Thus, holding cannabis to a different standard due to this side effect is in fact holding a double standard and disrespecting science and evidence. In fact, if you’re sick and dying of cancer on your deathbed, the idea of ‘feeling good’ is a powerful one I think many people, especially those in the medical profession, can relate with.
Another reference in regards to cannabis in popular culture is the ‘munchies,’ essentially, the appetite-stimulation effects of cannabis use. While the data is scarce on this topic in the elderly, preliminary findings show promise.”
Highly recommended as a thoughtful and referenced overview of the growing numbers of ways cannabis is being found to be useful in various aspects of geriatric and hospice medicine.
#MMJ #Research #Seniors #Alzheimers #Hospice #Cancer #UTpol #TRUCE
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See full article – Cannabis And The Elderly: A Neurophysiological And Pharmacological Review – CannaTech News
