Veterans With Brain Injury Use More Cannabis, VA Study Ignores ECS

A new study conducted by the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States looked at cannabis use among veterans. Researchers found that veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were much more likely to use cannabis. In conclusion, the study questioned why and also pointed to the possibility of non-cannabis treatments, ignoring the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

Observational experiment by MIBH

163 patients from the Marcus Institute of Brain Health (MIBH) were included in the survey. The results were then compared to overall cannabis use rates documented by the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Accordingly, 8.6% of adults 26 years and older in the US used cannabis. In contrast, a significantly larger percentage of patients with mild TBI reported using cannabis, 44.2% of those surveyed at MIBH. Mild TBI patients preferred THC-based supplements, with only 10 of the 72 patients using CBD instead. (1)

Neuropsychiatric symptoms, pain and insomnia were the most common complaints patients with mild TBI used cannabis to treat. Unfortunately, the study concluded that self-administered cannabis preparations are an inadequate form of treatment. However, the study failed to highlight deficiencies in the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that might lead veterans with brain injuries to use cannabis more frequently. In addition, the study suggested exploring alternative non-cannabis treatments for mild TBI patients.

Endocannabinoid Deficiency and Disease

A confluence of receptors and transmitters includes the endocannabinoid system (ECS); recently treated under the broader endocannabinidiome. Diseases and disorders can arise when transmitters within the ECS become dysregulated.

Ethan Russo, MD first hypothesized the possible root cause of migraines, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. (2) Subsequently, wheat sensitivity was assumed by this author to be a symptom of ECS deficiency. While early evidence suggests that dysregulated endocannabididiomes are linked to trauma, which warrants further investigation.

Bad ECS tones cause canna searches

However, all symptoms associated with endocannabinoid deficiency are positive for an increase in cannabis use. This means that a person is unknowingly trying to accommodate low endocannabinoid tones and poor receptor densities by seeking out cannabinoids. Correcting these low pitched sounds is believed to be the reason for increased cannabis use.

Veterans will often put up an uphill battle after coming home to use cannabis under insurable health insurance, or at all. Research showing such traumatic increases in cannabis use should support these veterans and further validate their needs. Unfortunately, however, that respect will only be available to veterans when science recognizes the importance of cannabinoid therapy and the endocannabididiome.

The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) serves a number of US government departments, including Veteran Affairs (VA).

Science handpicked by the VA

The study (1) showed an oddly selective group of reararchers. These included Brandon Utter, a PhD with zero publications on cannabis or endocannabinoid research. A Ph.D. Catie Johnston-Brooks, Clinical Psychologist at MIBH, with over fifteen years of Veterans Affairs experience, participated in the research. Her only other contributions to cannabis research were two similar articles by MIBH on brain injury and substance use.

Four physicians also collaborated on research into increased cannabis use in veterans with mild traumatic brain injuries. Two MDs, C. Alan Anderson and David Arciniegas, have yet to publish any research on the endocannabinoid system or cannabis. However, Anderson and Arciniegas are two senior editors of the Journal of American Neuropsychiatric Medicine. It appears that all of the cannabis experience on the project came from Chris Filey, MD. With an exclusively negative bias, however, Filley has conducted research attempting to find ways in which cannabis use can cause leukotoxicity and white matter disorders.

With this in mind, the endocannabinoid should be treated with respect. High THC levels may be needed by certain patients to treat extreme pain, for example. Be aware, however, that these doses can lead to tolerance. This is because high doses of THC can cause receptor density to temporarily decrease, causing these receptors to become desensitized. But was it improper preparation combined with poor dosing that caused MIBH to find widespread results? Or, because of their negative bias, did the researchers find little evidence supporting veterans treating mild TBI symptoms with cannabis?

Let us know in the comments if you have any experience of cannabis use and brain injury. And look at this story to find out how to increase endocannabinoid tone through diet instead of THC.

dr Brandon Utter was contacted for comment about endocannabinoid deficiency, but didn’t immediately respond.

sources

1. Brandon Utter, PharmD, C. Alan Anderson, MD, Christopher M. Filley, MD, James P. Kelly, MD, Catharine Johnston-Brooks, PhD, David B. Arciniegas, MD, Cannabis Use in a Cohort of US Military Veterans Who Seek Health Care With Persistent Symptoms After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Preliminary Observations, Military Medicine, 2022;, usac011
2. Russo EB (2008). Clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD): Can this concept explain the therapeutic utility of cannabis in migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and other treatment-resistant disorders? Letters of Neuroendocrinology, 29(2), 192-200.