In response to a growing number of incidents where elderly individuals have over-consumed cannabis, medical professionals are cautioning older adults about the correct methods of cannabis consumption. Consuming edibles especially, without suitable advice, is known for provoking anxiety, although the dangers are seldom physical.
Seattle’s KOMO News reveals that physicians are eager to instruct seniors on how to avert anxiety and unnecessary trips to the emergency room. This problem can be addressed with straightforward education about the distinctions between edibles, topical treatments, and inhalable products, and their differing impacts.
It falls upon every consumer to conduct thorough research before consuming an edible or a product with high THC content.
“Various circumstances might lead you to the emergency room, stemming from the mix of cannabis with a medication or another product,” stated Dr. Lianne Hirano from the Geriatrics department at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, to KOMO News.
“If you’re a novice user, or if you’re accustomed to products from the 60s and 70s, the products of today are significantly more potent. Your body and metabolism might not be prepared for this intensity,” she added, “It can be quite alarming.”
The Wall Street Journal discloses that seniors are often prone to over-consuming cannabis if they’re accustomed to milder doses.
Seniors are exploring cannabis for medicinal uses for a variety of reasons. Some seniors resort to cannabis to aid with sleep. Studies have shown that, in general, cannabis assists seniors in achieving an additional 30 minutes of sleep on average. Participants in the study used smartphones and actigraphy watches to record their sleep patterns.
Some seniors hold the belief that cannabis can assist in combating the effects of aging. Seniors are turning to cannabis to alleviate common aging symptoms, with almost 80% of those who reported using cannabis stating they did so for medicinal purposes, as per a study conducted by researchers at the University of California San Diego. The results of the study, “Cannabis: An emerging treatment for common symptoms in older adults,” were published on Oct. 7, 2020 in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.
Present-Day Weed is ‘A Different Beast’
Hashtag Cannabis Marketing Director Christine Bryant characterized today’s more potent weed as “a different beast.”
“The distinction comes when using a topical, you won’t experience the psychoactive effects of THC. However, you will experience some of the anti-inflammatory properties that THC can offer for the skin barrier. That’s the contrast with an oral (product), like a gummy or a chocolate. Will this impact your entire system? It’s going to be processed through your liver, you’re going to feel full body effects,” she explained.
If you happen to ingest too much THC, smelling black peppercorns is a traditional trick that can alleviate some, though not all, of the effect.
Research indicates both advancements and drawbacks as a result of senior cannabis use. Last January, a study published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society by researchers from the University of California San Diego suggested that emergency room visits involving people 65 and older who use cannabis have risen by 1,804% in the past 15 years.
Another study published in the Journal of American Geriatrics Society also noted a surge in seniors who are using cannabis. In a survey of nearly 600 adults in this age group, 15% reported using marijuana products in the last three years.
Any individual considering cannabis should be conscious of the correct titration to avoid distressing emergency room visits.
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