SELF-REPORTED MARIJUANA USE, PAIN LEVELS, AND OPIOID USE AMONG ADULT CANCER SURVIVORS IN ARKANSAS
Author(s)
Grishma KC, BS1, Chenghui Li, Ph.D.1, Emily Hallgren, Ph.D.2, Mario Schootman, Ph.D.3;
1University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Little Rock, AR, USA, 2University of Vermont, Department of Medicine, The Robert Larner MD College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA, 3University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Little Rock, AR, USA
1University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Little Rock, AR, USA, 2University of Vermont, Department of Medicine, The Robert Larner MD College of Medicine, Burlington, VT, USA, 3University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Little Rock, AR, USA
OBJECTIVES: Patients with cancer are increasingly reporting marijuana use for pain management. However, there is mixed evidence regarding marijuana’s effects on pain. This study examined the association of self-reported marijuana use with pain levels and prescription opioid use among adult cancer survivors in a largely rural state.
METHODS: Adult cancer survivors receiving care at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in the past three years were surveyed between September 2022-August 2023. Survivor’s characteristics (sociodemographic, cancer and treatment-related factors, smoking and alcohol use) were compared by self-reported marijuana use. Logistic regressions evaluated the association of marijuana use with self-reported pain levels in the past 7 days and prescription opioid use in the past 12 months. Stepwise selection was used to identify covariates.
RESULTS: Among the 533 survivors who responded to marijuana use question, 9% (n=48) reported some use. Marijuana users were more likely to report moderate/severe pain in the past 7 days (57.5% vs. 32.2%, p=0.0005) and prescription opioid use in the past 12 months (41.7% vs. 25.9%, p=0.02). Compared to nonusers, users were younger (mean age: 56.4 vs. 64.3, p=0.0001), less likely to be married (45.8% vs 64.8%, p=0.01), college graduates (25.0% vs 42.5%, p= 0.06), or have commercial insurance (33.3% vs 50.9%, p=0.004), but more likely to smoke (20.8% vs 7.9%, p=0.002), be disabled (37.5% vs. 14.0%, p=0.0001), have received chemotherapy (70.8% vs 42.7%, p=0.0002) or cancer treatment/diagnosis in the past three years (85.4% vs 62.9%, p=0.0002). After adjustment, no statistically significant association was found between marijuana use and pain level (OR:1.99, 95% CI: 0.94-4.18, p=0.07) or prescription opioid use (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.58-2.31, p=0.68).
CONCLUSIONS: Marijuana users were more likely to report moderate/severe pain and prescription opioid use. Differences in sociodemographic, cancer treatment, and behavior factors between users and nonusers explained the differences in these outcomes.
METHODS: Adult cancer survivors receiving care at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in the past three years were surveyed between September 2022-August 2023. Survivor’s characteristics (sociodemographic, cancer and treatment-related factors, smoking and alcohol use) were compared by self-reported marijuana use. Logistic regressions evaluated the association of marijuana use with self-reported pain levels in the past 7 days and prescription opioid use in the past 12 months. Stepwise selection was used to identify covariates.
RESULTS: Among the 533 survivors who responded to marijuana use question, 9% (n=48) reported some use. Marijuana users were more likely to report moderate/severe pain in the past 7 days (57.5% vs. 32.2%, p=0.0005) and prescription opioid use in the past 12 months (41.7% vs. 25.9%, p=0.02). Compared to nonusers, users were younger (mean age: 56.4 vs. 64.3, p=0.0001), less likely to be married (45.8% vs 64.8%, p=0.01), college graduates (25.0% vs 42.5%, p= 0.06), or have commercial insurance (33.3% vs 50.9%, p=0.004), but more likely to smoke (20.8% vs 7.9%, p=0.002), be disabled (37.5% vs. 14.0%, p=0.0001), have received chemotherapy (70.8% vs 42.7%, p=0.0002) or cancer treatment/diagnosis in the past three years (85.4% vs 62.9%, p=0.0002). After adjustment, no statistically significant association was found between marijuana use and pain level (OR:1.99, 95% CI: 0.94-4.18, p=0.07) or prescription opioid use (OR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.58-2.31, p=0.68).
CONCLUSIONS: Marijuana users were more likely to report moderate/severe pain and prescription opioid use. Differences in sociodemographic, cancer treatment, and behavior factors between users and nonusers explained the differences in these outcomes.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH26
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Safety & Pharmacoepidemiology
Disease
SDC: Oncology