Chronic Pain and Prescribed Opioids Research Study
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital are conducting a remote study with adults currently using opioid medication daily for chronic pain to learn how medical marijuana may affect opioid use for pain management.
Fast Facts
Chronic Pain for 6+ Months
Use Prescribed Opioid Pain Medication Daily
Not a Daily or Weekly User of Cannabis
Conducted Remotely
Study Background
Could medical marijuana help people with chronic pain gradually reduce or taper their dose of opioid medications?
This 6-month study aims to recruit adults ages 18-75 taking daily prescription opioid medications for chronic, non-cancer pain. We are looking for participants who are interested in using marijuana to reduce their pain, their opioid dose, or both.
Everyone in this study will participate in a 24-week Prescription Opioid Taper Support (POTS) program. POTS is a group pain management and support program where you will work with a health team to learn pain management skills and create an opioid reduction plan to match your goals. Some participants may be able to start using medical marijuana in addition to this program, while others will be asked to wait 6 months before trying medical marijuana products.
Eventually, we hope that the findings of this study will help improve pain management strategies for people with chronic pain.
Study Background
Could medical marijuana help people with chronic pain gradually reduce or taper their dose of opioid medications?
This 6-month study aims to recruit adults ages 18-75 taking daily prescription opioid medications for chronic, non-cancer pain. We are looking for participants who are interested in using marijuana to reduce their pain, their opioid dose, or both.
Everyone in this study will participate in a 24-week Prescription Opioid Taper Support (POTS) program. POTS is a group pain management and support program where you will work with a health team to learn pain management skills and create an opioid reduction plan to match your goals. Some participants may be able to start using medical marijuana in addition to this program, while others will be asked to wait 6 months before trying medical marijuana products.
Eventually, we hope that the findings of this study will help improve pain management strategies for people with chronic pain.
Additional Information
This study aims to understand how medical marijuana may affect opioid use and pain. The goal of this study is to see whether medical marijuana might help people gradually reduce, or taper, their dose of opioid medications while receiving support from clinicians to manage pain.
You may qualify for a study if you meet the following criteria.
Qualified Participants:
- Ages 18-75
- Chronic pain for 6+ months
- Use prescribed opioid pain medication daily
- Not a daily or weekly user of cannabis
- Interested in trying cannabis to reduce pain or opioid dose
- No cognitive disorder (such as dementia)
Everyone in this study will participate in a 24-week Prescription Opioid Taper Support (POTS) program on Zoom. POTS sessions will last approximately 1 hour per week and will include group discussions on pain management and opioid use.
In addition, participants will also have 8 study visits (either in person or via Zoom) over the course of 6 months. Most visits last about 1-1.5 hours. During the visits, participants will complete surveys, fill out questionnaires, and complete cognitive tasks. Participants will also be asked to complete a short daily survey to keep a record of their cannabis use, opioid use, and pain levels.
As a participant, you can receive up to $1,150 for completing the entire study.
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study. Participants will be responsible for the costs of any marijuana they choose to purchase.
