PTSD symptoms can possibly be alleviated through pot use: UBC study
Posted Nov 10, 2019 9:50 am.
Last Updated Nov 10, 2019 10:53 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – New research points to the potential benefits of cannabis for the treatment of post-traumatic stress.
The University of British Columbia’s researchers know there’s no simple antidote to treating conditions like PTSD. But a new study from the university points to the potential of cannabis to make a real difference.
Based on an analysis of Statistics Canada data, UBC researchers have found that non-cannabis using people suffering from PTSD are about seven times more likely to have experienced a recent major depressive episode than someone with post-traumatic stress using pot.
“Our goal of course is to identify therapies for which benefits outweigh the risks. And also we need to generate this data so people living with PTSD and their caregivers, their clinicians, their families, can make informed decisions,” he says.
“I’m not someone who thinks cannabis is going to be a panacea. Like any psychoactive substance, I think cannabis use probably comes with some benefits and some risks.”
New research from @UBC suggests that cannabis may be helping Canadians cope with the effects of PTSD: https://t.co/ugSJ5H5KlB @ubcspph @BCCSU pic.twitter.com/hySXrU3IWe
— UBC Medicine (@UBCmedicine) November 5, 2019
He adds that the reality is people with PTSD are “suffering from a serious mental condition” which is the reality.
But Milloy stresses there’s still more work to be done, but this data points to pot’s potential PTSD treatment promise.
“The next step is really for us to do those control trials. And I’m happy to say that we are putting the finishing touches for a study, looking at Cannabis for PTSD at UBC and hopefully we can announce that new study early in the new year,” Milloy says.
