Canada has the highest prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the world; 1 in 140 Canadians suffer from the disease. One of the most common and debilitating symptoms of IBD is abdominal pain. Traditionally, opioids are used to manage pain. While effective, they are accompanied by severe side effects (e.g., addiction and increased risk of death). Thus, there is an unmet need for safe and effective strategies to manage pain in IBD, without the adverse side effects associated with conventional opioid treatment. The legalization of cannabis in Canada may increase the number of patients with IBD who choose to use cannabis to manage pain.
For upcoming interviews check out the Grad Chap webpage on Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies website – https://www.queensu.ca/sgs/grad-chat