Wayne State University, in Michigan, has begun examining cannabis as an alternative therapy to treat veterans with depression and PTSD.
While veterans make up only 8% of the USA’s adult population, they represent 15% of all adult suicide deaths.
The use of medical cannabis by veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions is nothing new. In this 2023 studyMedical cannabis is reported to have improved the quality of life for 91% of those surveyed. 21% said they use fewer opioids because of it.
There is no consensus among scientists about the effectiveness of cannabis for PTSD.
In another step to move towards that, Wayne State University was awarded three grants totalling $19.5 million in total from the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency; funded through the state’s Veteran Marijuana Research Grant Program. Funding was provided to help study potential therapeutic effects cannabis has on veterans.
Participating are engaging in a 12-week treatment program testing varying levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol); gauging how the treatments affect mood, mental health and overall well-being.
The study is a crucial step towards addressing mental health issues facing veterans. said Dr. Leslie LundahlThe principal investigator of these studies,. We aim to determine whether cannabis has a positive impact on veterans’ quality of life by using scientific research methods.
You can find more information on the study at WarriorCare.net
The onset of PTSD is triggered by a variety of events, including violent assaults and accidents. It can also be caused by combat or other types violence. PTSD doesn’t just affect veterans – it can affect anyone, so the results of the study will have wider application.
According to the National Center for PTSD, around 6% of the U.S. population will have PTSD at some point in their lives, but many will recover. Around 5% adults in the U.S. suffer from PTSD at any time. Women are more than twice as likely to suffer from PTSD (8%) than men (4%)
“This is in part due to the types of traumatic events that women are more likely to experience—such as sexual assault—compared to men,” says the Center.