Cannabis for children? Nearly half of Canadian paediatricians did not know that they could prescribe: Survey – National

Dr. Michael Rieder wants it to be clear that cannabis is not a cure for side effects.

The pediatrician from London, Ont., Received many children who were referred to him by doctors who know that Rieder wrote: Cannabis use and are not sure to prescribe.

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Conversations, says Rieder, are rather interesting

"Families usually arrive with a number of ideas," says he.

imbued with some mythological character … a panacea for all ills unlike most other drugs. "

But it's still a drug."

It turns out that the providers know less, says Rieder.They do not know when to prescribe or how much or for how long. there is a list of authorized Health Canada providers, he notes, there is no monograph on side effects or possible short- and long-term risks.

A spokesperson for Health Canada says the government will update the five-year information on cannabis so that they are in a format similar to that of a pharmaceutical product monograph.

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In fact, 49% of them did not even know that they could prescribe cannabis to children, according to a pediatrician survey released Thursday by the Canadian Pediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP) and 39% did not know they could prescribe to youth. More than three-quarters reported little or no knowledge of why cannabis could be used or the correct dosage.

This does not prevent minors from using marijuana for medical purposes. Half of the pediatricians who responded to the survey reported treating patients who used medical marijuana in the previous year, for both authorized and unauthorized reasons. The vast majority, according to the survey, saw five or fewer patients who used cannabis.

"We were stunned," says Dr. Richard Bélanger, who helped conduct the survey for the CPSP and who is also a pediatrician and researcher in Quebec. "It was a shock … but in the end, it really makes sense."

Almost everywhere in Canada, Bélanger says, "Paediatricians treat complex diseases in children with sometimes fewer options of treatment than adults. "

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Although half said they treated a patient who used cannabis for medical reasons, only 34 said they personally prescribed cannabis authorized the previous year. However, only one-third of Canadian pediatric pediatric subspecialists and subspecies responded to the 2017 survey (877 out of 2,816).

This poll is only one step toward confusion over how pediatricians can and should use medical marijuana. With the legalization of October 17, he says, many health professionals say they do not have enough knowledge about cannabis prescription.

"We must continue to produce knowledge and inform pediatricians and health professionals working with children," he says.

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In particular, Bélanger wants to get a better idea of ​​how cannabis is used to treat minors in more rural areas. Most respondents came from large centers or university towns.

"We are not sure if this is a clear representation of what is happening, say, in northern Manitoba," says Bélanger.

According to Rieder, it is important to ensure that cannabis is prescribed by a professional – all the more so as legalization encourages more people to learn about marijuana for medical purposes.

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Although some studies have shown its usefulness in the treatment of children with epilepsy, it is concerned about some children aged five or six who consume cannabis to treat seizures. attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADHD). Rieder says most of the investigations he conducts on cannabis concern the appeasement of children with ADHD

"It's a terrible idea," he says.

"They may be a little more talented We know that cannabinoids have significant effects on some developing brains."

As research continues and pediatricians get the latest information before legalization , Rieder says it's important that parents remember that "

" Like any drug, you always have to ask certain questions, "he says." What is the expected benefit? What is the expected risk? How will it be followed? "