Maximum Yield Cannabis USA August / September 2017 | Page 67

In a society where painkillers
are the answer to the slightest feeling
of pain, the situation is reaching
unbearable levels, as opioid painkillers
are highly addictive and responsible
for other negative effects.”
Even if the root cause of the problem appears to be, amongst
other things, the excessive prescription of opioid drugs, their
high price coupled with a country in financial crisis has led
many patients to resort to heroin. It’s the perfect substitute, as
it provides a stronger effect at a considerably lower price. This
has led to cities becoming drug meccas, home to a population
with extremely high addiction rates and an economic network
based on drug-trafficking.
CANNABIS AND
OPIOID ADDICTION
The government has tried to tackle the opioid epidemic
in different ways, including detox programs in which
patients are administered with aggressive, unhealthy
heroin substitutes. In states such as California,
however, there are detoxification programs in which
cannabis is regarded as a substance that can help
heroin addicts fight the intense symptoms associ-
ated with drug withdrawal. Let’s look a bit closer
at this method to see how it works exactly and if it
really is as effective as some people claim.
We interviewed Ryan, a young New Yorker
that was prescribed opioid painkillers at
the age of 15. The opioid in question was
hydrocodone, which was prescribed to him
to treat his backache. He never thought that
taking those pills would imply an addiction;
he actually found the effect amusing. When
he was 19, some friends offered him heroin.
For eight years, his life revolved around this
drug. He had five overdoses that almost killed
him. After several failed rehab attempts,
Ryan asked an acquaintance who owned
a cannabis farm in California and was
familiar with the plant’s medicinal use for
help. This is how he joined a cannabis-based
detoxification program that has helped him
overcome his heroin addiction.
Before being addicted to heroin, you used pre-
scription opioid painkillers on a regular basis. Do
you think these drugs are prescribed too lightly
and that they can originate addiction problems?
When I started to use hydrocodone, I was not
aware of the problems this drug could cause me.
So, my answer is yes, some doctors prescribe this
kind of drug as if they were candy and they can cre-
ate addiction problems indeed.
myhydrolife.com
grow. heal. learn. enjoy.
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