Drug overdose deaths in 2020 hit highest number ever recorded, CDC data shows

New data released by the CDC has revealed that drug overdose deaths rose by close to 30% in the United States in 2020 – hitting the highest number ever recorded. As in recent years, inappropriate use of opioids was behind most of the deaths. Overdoses from opioids have been steadily worsening in the US for decades. Congress has blamed the FDA for approving new synthetic opioids and some drug-makers have been prosecuted for their role in marketing them. Doctors have also been blamed for overprescribing opioids and addicting people to them in the first place.

When are we going to stop talking about “what needs to be done” and actually introduce some bold changes here!? Sure, the FDA could introduce more oversight in prescribing – but you can’t take something away without empowering doctors with a safe and effective alternative. I won’t claim that cannabinoid-based medicine will solve this complex problem – but the fact that new doctors are graduating med school with zero knowledge about this much safer class of medicine and the majority of veteran doctors are still dismissive, is unacceptable and untenable given the evidence—especially when it comes to managing pain.

In the fight against opioid addiction we need to equip medical professionals with knowledge regarding safer alternatives AND improve patient access by providing more robust cost coverage.

Self-Care Spring Cleaning: Episode 2

When was the last time you reviewed your medications and supplements with your doctor? Why should you care?

In this pandemic year, many people have missed their annual wellness checks. Recent data also shows a potential rise in self-medication - including over-the-counter meds, supplements, alcohol & recreational drugs - all of which could lead to serious side-effects.

In episode two, Dr. Pearson will be joined by certified geriatric pharmacist and Health Depot (tag) CEO, Andrew Donald and Tilray’s Philippe Lucas PhD, for an interactive discussion on everything you need to know to medicate mindfully.

New Mini-Series: Self-Care Spring Cleaning w/ Dr. Blake Pearson

May is Mental Health month, so we thought it was the perfect time to launch our new Self-Care Spring Cleaning mini-series. The first webisode is tomorrow night and Sarah and I are so excited to talk to everyone about how to declutter and tune-up our emotional and mental health - including strategies we use personally and in practice. There is still time to register at www.drblakepearson.org/events

Huge thanks to Tyler Kula at The Observer for helping us get the word out.

Ontario doctors still lack knowledge about medical cannabis

A recent study conducted by McMaster University shows that Ontario physicians are still reluctant to authorize medical cannabis. This is unsurprising given that the endocannabinoid continues to be left out of most medical school curricula in the year 2021!! We need to catch up with the times here as it’s having a massive impact on patient access and care.

For more info, check out this article in the Hamilton Spectator: https://bit.ly/3uU4uLy

Can CBD Help A Loved One With Dementia?

An estimated 50 million people around the world have been diagnosed with some form of dementia, and every year, there are approximately 10 million new cases. There is no cure, current treatment options are limited and it’s been described as a global health crisis requiring urgent action. Despite this, like so many issues affecting our seniors, it doesn’t get a lot of airtime.

Kudos to Amy Marturana Winderl and Health Central for this extremely informative article about how advances in research are showing cannabinoid medicine to be a safe and effective treatment option in the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia. I was really pleased to be a part of this story.

Every 65 seconds someone in the USA is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease - and after age 65, 1 in 5 women have a chance of developing the disease. This is a topic we should all care about.

Read the full article here.

The #CoverCannabis Project: The Sarnia Journal

“The unjust part of it is that we have guidelines to switch people off opiates, and patients want to do this. But when they have to choose between groceries or medication that is covered – but possibly more harmful – they usually go for the medication that’s covered.”

Huge thanks to the Sarnia Journal for helping to raise awareness of the #CoverCannabis movement. We’re really starting to gain some momentum and are grateful to everyone who is helping us spread the word and sharing their own stories. If you don’t feel comfortable sharing your experience on social, e-mail me at info@pearsonhealth.com and we can help you share it anonymously. These are the stories that will make change happen.

Full article available here.

The #CoverCannabis Project: Global News Interview with Patient Kelly

I challenge anyone to listen to my patient Kelly’s story and explain why her medical cannabis should not be covered. Full interview here: https://bit.ly/3ao2lPw

Kelly went from taking 17 drugs, including heavy narcotics like fentanyl, percocet, and oxycontin, sleeping pills like zopiclone, and biologic medications that suppress the immune system, to just her thyroid medication and her medical cannabis.

Not only is it much safer to be on fewer medications - there’s a huge cost benefit to insurers.

Cannabinoid therapy is saving Kelly’s private insurance provider thousands of dollars a year, now that she’s on SIXTEEN fewer covered meds. Not to mention the direct cost savings to #OHIP through reduced doctor visits and avoiding the hospital due to potential drug interactions. But despite all this, she has to pay out-of-pocket for the only therapy that has ever worked.

Someone please explain this to me. Or better yet, public and private policymakers, please contact me to shed some light on this for you. Truly - I’d be happy to collaborate with you.

The #CoverCannabis Project: Global News Interview with Mike Stubbs

I was thrilled to be invited onto London Live with Mike Stubbs to chat about our #CoverCannabis Project.

Listen to the full interview here.

When you’re in the midst of a pandemic, other important issues don’t get a lot of attention. The problem is, they’re still there and in this case, the pandemic has exacerbated the problem by increasing many of the symptoms for which people need cannabinoid medicines AND making it harder to attain due to the financial stress the pandemic has imposed on so many Canadians.

Mike and I chat about this and more on his show. Click on the link below to hear our full conversation.

Thank you all for your continued support for this movement! Keep sharing your stories using hashtag #CoverCannabis and sharing our posts. If we make enough noise, we will make change.

Real World MediCannabis Virtual Summit

Healthcare Colleagues,

I’ll be presenting at the Real World MediCannabis Virtual Summit, which begins tomorrow evening, December 3rd. I’ll be sharing practical considerations for the use of cannabinoid medicine in long-term care and touch on how this class of medication can be of particular benefit in addressing some of the unique challenges associated with the pandemic (i.e. increased anxiety, sleeplessness, behaviours associated with dementia, etc.)

I’ll also share some data about how cannabinoids can be used to reduce opioids, antipsychotics, antidepressants, sleep aids and overall polypharmacy.

To register, visit http://www.realworld.events/.

If you are unable to attend during the set times, once you register, you should be able to access the presentations on-demand at your convenience.

Medical Cannabis Week - Discussing Education w/ Jay Rosenthal

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to share my observations about training and educating fellow physicians in cannabinoid-based medicine.

As part of Medical Cannabis Week, we talked about the changes I’ve seen in physicians’ acceptance and readiness to learn about medical cannabis, how more practitioners are prescribing proactively vs. only after being asked by a patient, and the ongoing barriers to integrating cannabinoids into daily practice.

We also discussed the similarities and differences that practitioners face around the world, and how our team works with international medical colleagues to share learnings and best practice.

Huge thanks to Jay Rosenthal for the opportunity. I hope you’ll all check it out!