Medical Marijuana for Insomnia Patients in Oklahoma
Insomnia patients can qualify for medical marijuana access in Oklahoma.
Although the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority (OMMA) has no definitive list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana treatment,
insomnia is among the common problems associated with marijuana treatment.
Patients with Insomnia can qualify for medical marijuana treatment as long as they have a licensed physician’s recommendation.
Once a marijuana doctor determines that patients with insomnia can qualify for medical marijuana treatment, the patients can purchase medical marijuana products in Oklahoma to treat their sleep problems.
The American Sleep Association states between 50 and 70 million Americans have a sleep disorder, with insomnia being the most common type. About 30% of adults reported short-term insomnia and 10% claimed chronic issues.
Although Oklahoma-specific statistics are unavailable, insomnia is a common condition that drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in the state receive.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality released a report by the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) stating that 31.8 percent of adults made ED visits for abusing anti-insomnia and anti-anxiety drugs.
This problem may highlight the fact that insomnia remains a pressing problem among adults in Oklahoma.
People are seeking methods to treat their conditions to the point of abusing drugs that seem to fail in helping their conditions.
What Is Insomnia?
Insomnia is a common sleeping disorder affecting millions of Americans. People with this sleep condition find it harder than usual to fall asleep.
Insomniacs also have a hard time staying asleep.
Patients with insomnia may wake up too early and fail to fall back asleep, thus going about their day with only a few hours of sleep.
Basic Information About Insomnia
Insomnia drains patients of their energy, which can lead to adverse health conditions. Chronic or long-term insomnia may increase the risk of developing mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.
Overall lower quality of life is also a complication associated with insomnia. Other complications include irritability, lower academic performance, decreased work productivity, and a higher risk of motor vehicle accidents due to sleeplessness.
Acute Insomnia: Most adults experience acute or short-term insomnia. This sleep condition lasts for days to weeks. Acute insomnia usually follows after a traumatic event or results from stress. Acute insomnia is more common among women than men.
Chronic Insomnia: Some adults experience chronic or long-term insomnia that lasts for more than a month. Chronic insomnia may have a history of difficulty falling and staying asleep. People may develop chronic insomnia after traumatic events or be related to other sleep disorders. Women are also more prone to chronic insomnia than men.
The Sleep Foundation further identifies five ways of describing insomnia:
Sleep Onset Insomnia: A difficulty falling asleep at the beginning of the night.
Sleep Maintenance Insomnia: An inability to stay asleep through the night.
Early Morning Awakening Insomnia: A type of insomnia making people wake up earlier than intended.
Mixed Insomnia: A common informal term describing the overlap of several sleep problems.
Comorbid Insomnia: A secondary sleep problem resulting from mental disorders or physical pain.
Causes of Insomnia
Common habits associated with developing chronic insomnia include:
Late Meals: Eating too much food in the evening may cause insomnia. Heavy late-night meals may lead to heartburn or acid reflux, which may keep someone awake.
Poor Sleeping Habits: Irregular sleep schedules may keep a person awake at night. Other poor sleep habits include people using their computers in bed for work, using phones before sleeping, and taking too many naps.
Stress: Academic responsibilities, work concerns, or family issues may keep a person awake at night. Significant life events such as divorce and death may also cause stress, which would keep minds active at night.
Work Schedules: A graveyard shift is a common cause of insomnia. Traveling to another time zone may also affect a person’s sleep cycle.
Impact on Lifestyle of Insomnia
Insomnia can take a toll on a person’s physical and mental health:
Obesity: Insomnia can be associated with changes in oversleep metabolism, leading to weight-related problems like obesity.
Mental Disorders: Anxiety and depression are common mental conditions associated with sleep deprivation.
Lower Life Expectancy: Chronic insomniacs may have shorter lifespans from the combined physical and mental impact of their sleep deprivation.
Symptoms of Insomnia
A person may suffer from insomnia if they exhibit the following symptoms:
Anxiety or depression
Cannot focus on tasks
Decreased productivity
Feeling restless in the morning
Feeling tired or sleepy during the day
Impaired attention span
Increased accidents
Irritability
More errors
Trouble falling asleep at night
Trouble remembering details
Trouble waking up during the day
Waking up too early
Worrying oversleep
Types of Insomnia Treatments
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia: CBT-I helps insomniacs develop healthy sleep habits with or without medication. Doctors may recommend CBT-I if standard insomnia preventive measures have failed. CBT-I strategies may involve relaxation techniques, sleep restriction, and light therapy.
Prescription Medication: Doctors may prescribe sleeping pills for acute insomnia intended for only a few weeks. However, sleep medicine for chronic insomnia exists, including eszopiclone, ramelteon, zaleplon, and zolpidem.
Medical Marijuana: This has become an alternative option for some people suffering from insomnia; a study has shown that medical marijuana may be an effective treatment for insomnia. It works by restoring a person’s natural sleep cycle.
Prevention of Insomnia
Standard prevention methods for insomnia mostly involve adopting good sleeping habits.
The following examples may promote a healthier sleep cycle:
Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine
Avoiding heavy meals at night
Avoiding or limiting naps during the day
Maintaining a consistent sleep and wake time throughout the week
Staying active during the day to promote sound sleep at night
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