Use and Perceptions of Opioids Versus Marijuana among Cancer Survivors

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Jessica M Potts, Emory University; Betelihem Getachew, Emory University; Milkie Vu, Emory University; Eric Nehl, Emory University; Katherine Yeager, Emory University; Corinne R Leach, American Cancer Society; Carla Berg, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-06-12
• Publisher: SPRINGER
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2020, American Association for Cancer Education
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01791-5
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JOURNAL OF CANCER EDUCATION
• Volume: 37
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 91
• End Page: 101
• Grant/Funding Information: Dr. Yeager is supported by NIH (1 R01 CA236871-01, PI: Yeager; U10CA180868 Pis: Wolmark, Curran, Mannel; 1 R01 AG061971-01, PI: Hepburn and P30NR018090-02, PI: Song).; This research was supported by the Atlanta Clinical & Translational Science Institute Research Seed Grant Program (now the Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance) (PHS Grant UL1TR000454 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH).; Dr. Berg is also supported by NCI (R01CA215155-01A1, PI: Berg; R01CA179422-01, PI: Berg; R01CA239178-01A1, MPIs: Berg, Levine), the US Fogarty International Center/NIH (1R01TW010664-01, MPIs: Berg, Kegler), and NIEHS/Fogarty (D43ES030927-01, MPIs: Berg, Marsit, Sturua). Ms. Vu. is supported by NCI (F31 CA243220-01, PI: Vu).
• Keywords: Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; patient perspectives; MEDICATION USE; Education, Scientific Disciplines; BARRIERS; DEATHS; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; CHRONIC PAIN; OVERDOSE; Social Sciences; UNITED-STATES; Marijuana; Education & Educational Research; FATIGUE; Oncology; MANAGEMENT; CANNABIS USE; Cancer survivors; Science & Technology; GUIDELINE; Opioid

Abstract

Public health concerns regarding opioids and marijuana have implications for their medical use. This study examined use motives and perceived barriers in relation to opioid and marijuana use and interest in use among US adult cancer survivors. Self-administered surveys were distributed using social media to assess use motives and perceived barriers among participants living with cancer. Overall, 40.9% of cancer survivors reported current (past 30-day) use of opioids, 42.5% used marijuana, and 39.7% used both. The most common use motives for either/both drugs were to cope with pain and stress/anxiety (>70%). Highest-rated barriers to using either/both drugs were missing symptoms of worsening illness and not wanting to talk about their symptoms. Controlling for sociodemographics, binary logistic regression indicated that current opioid use was associated with reporting greater barriers to use (OR = 1.17, p =.011; Nagelkerke R-square =.934) and that current marijuana use was associated with reporting greater barriers to use (OR = 1.37, p =.003; Nagelkerke R-square =.921). Cancer survivors report various use motives and barriers to use regarding opioids and marijuana. While use motives and barriers for both drugs were similar, these constructs were differentially associated with use and interest in use across drugs. Understanding patients’ perceptions about opioids and marijuana is an essential component to effectively manage symptoms related to a cancer diagnosis and improve quality of life for cancer survivors.