Dr. Blake Pearson

Although we have made huge gains in improving patient access to medical cannabis in Canada, for many patients, one of the main barriers continues to be cost. For many of my patients, starting cannabinoid therapy has been life-changing and has allowed them to reduce or eliminate other medications that weren’t providing benefit or that were causing intolerable side-effects. Unfortunately, despite the success they are having on cannabinoid therapy, some individuals are ultimat...ely forced to make the tough decision to go back on their previous medications (opioids, anti-psychotics, antidepressants, etc.) since they are covered by insurance. In Canada, with one of the world’s most admired health systems, that’s a VERY tough pill to swallow. At the very least, treatment for the most vulnerable individuals - like seniors with dementia and children with treatment resistant epilepsy - must be covered. Huge thanks to Tyler Kula from The Sarnia Observer for helping me raise awareness of this important issue. Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Society The Women's Alzheimer's Movement - WAM Gladu Marilyn MP Constituency Office Christine Elliot Office GovCan - North Ontario Ministry of Health Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton ontariolongtermcareassoc Christine Elliott Patty Hajdu #MoreWorkToDo #Dementia #Alzheimers #ALZ #Epilepsy #DravetSyndrome #HealthInsurance #Advocacy #CannabisAdvocate #MedicalCannabis #DrBlakePearson #CannabisISMedicine #DontTaxMedicine

Where has this month gone?! I can hardly believe we’re rounding the corner at the end of September and World Alzheimer’s Month. If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know that supporting individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia is a real passion. Dementia is a very complicated condition that affects millions of people worldwide. There is no cure or treatment to slow progression but there are new therapies to manage symptoms and improve people...’s quality of life. I was grateful to have the opportunity to speak about all this with Ted Michaels, host of The Health and Wellness Show on Hamilton’s 900 CHML. I hope you’ll have a listen. Full interview available here: https://omny.fm//health-and-wellness-show-september-27-202 Global News Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Society Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton #WorldAlzheimersMonth #WorldALZmonth #MedicalCannabis #Alzheimers #Dementia #Alzheimersawareness #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth #AlzheimersAssociation #AlzheimersSociety #AlzheimersCare #healthandwellness #CBD #MedicalCannabisPatient #CBDHealth #MedicalCannabisCommunity

A common question I hear from patients during their first appointment is whether they have to smoke cannabis in order to receive benefit. The short answer is a big NO. Cannabis extracts, in the form of oils and capsules, are the mainstay of most medical cannabis therapy. Similar to any other medication, this allows your doctor or nurse practitioner to dose right down to the milligram for absolute precision. Ingested cannabinoids are most effective in the treatment of conditio...ns where a longer duration of action is needed - i.e. chronic pain, anxiety, wakefulness during sleep. In acute scenarios (i.e. breakthrough pain or chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting), the quick onset of action provided through inhaled cannabinoids is more appropriate. However, smoking is NEVER recommended. In this case, your practitioner will recommend vaporizing your medication, which allows patients to benefit from the quick onset of action without the harmful byproducts of smoking. For more information about Health Canada's recommendations head to: https://www.canada.ca//information-health-care-professiona #MedicalCannabis #CannabisEducation #CannabinoidMedicine #Vaporizer #Vaping #CBD #CannabisCommunity #MedicalEducation #CannabisIsMedicine #GreenlyHealth #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #OilsandCapsules #CBDCommunity

This is yet another study that reminds us of the need for safe and effective treatment alternatives for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. We know that prolonged concurrent use of benzodiazepines and opioids is associated with risk factors such as osteoporosis, falls and fractures amongst older patients. The Finnish Medication & Alzheimer’s Disease Study found: - One in five Alzheimer’s patients taking benzodiazepines were also prescribed opioi...ds. Of these, Alzheimer’s patients were prescribed stronger opioids than patients who did not have Alzheimer’s. - 50% of patients taking benzodiazepines and opioids at the same time, were taking them for an inappropriately prolonged period - further increasing their risk of adverse side-effects. Cannabinoid medicines provide many of the same therapeutic benefits as benzodiazepines and opioids with a safer side-effect profile. They are also opioid-sparing, meaning that when they are co-administered with an opioid, they enable a reduced opioid dose, without any loss in analgesic efficacy. An added benefit is that cannabinoids are multimodal: they can often address multiple symptoms at once and help physicians de-prescribe other medications. Crucially for older adults, this reduces the risks associated with polypharmacy, which is the number one cause of hospitalizations due to adverse drug reactions amongst seniors in Canada. Read the full article here: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/905757 #MedicalEducation #CannabisEducation #CannabinoidMedicine #CannabisISMedicine #CannabisCulture #CannabisDoctor #MedicalMarijuana #VirtualLearning #GreenlyHealth #PearsonHealth #DrBlakePearson #OpioidReduction #CannabisCommunity #Pain #ChronicPain #Dementia #Alzheimers

British artist Tony Husband has created this thought-provoking cartoon to show that it doesn’t matter where or when, it’s important to start the conversation about dementia. This #WorldAlzheimersMonth, Alzheimer’s awareness advocates around the world are encouraging everyone to start talking about dementia and break the stigma. Picking the right moment and words to say or not say can be difficult, but your local Alzheimer’s associations are here to help. We’ve already share...d some resources from Canada and the USA, so today I’d like to spotlight some of the great resources available from the UK. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-in/world-alzheimers-month Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer Society of Canada Alzheimer's Society Alzheimer Durham Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton The Women's Alzheimer's Movement - WAM Maria Shriver Alzheimer's Society - South West England Alzheimer's Society - South West England #Worldalzmonth #WorldAlzheimerMonth #PearsonHealth #DrBlakePearson #DementiaAwareness #DementiaTreatment #Alzheimers #AlzheimersAwareness #MedicalCannabis #CannabinoidMedicine #WorldAlzheimersDay #WorldAlzheimersMonth #BrainHealth #FoodForThought

There have been several studies that have linked benzodiazepine use to an increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This is one out of Finland is one of the largest. In addition to insomnia, benzodiazepines and other so-called "Z" drugs, such as zolpidem (multiple brands) and zopiclone (Lunesta, Sunovion), are used to treat other neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, such as anxiety. Although these drugs have different molecular structures, they have a similar mechanism ...of action and similar anxiolytic, anticonvulsive, hypnotic, and relaxing effects. In addition, they have similar side-effects, including drowsiness, and their use is associated with mobility problems, falls, and fractures. Summary: The direction of causality from drugs to dementia could go in either direction, and this study can't determine the direction of causality," said David S. Knopman of the Mayo Clinic and Alzheimer’s Association Medical & Scientific Advisory Council. Nevertheless, a take-home message is that benzodiazepines and related sleep medications should be avoided ‘if at all possible’ in older individuals, said Knopman. Similar to benzodiazepines and Z drugs, cannabinoid-based medicines have anxiolytic, anticonvulsive and relaxing effects. When dosed low and slow by an experienced healthcare practitioner, cannabinoids can be equally or more effective than these medications in managing symptoms, but with a far superior side-effect profile. Study available here: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/900813#vp_1 Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Society Alzheimer Society of Canada The Women's Alzheimer's Movement - WAM Mayo Clinic #Dementia #LongTermCare #AlzheimersAwaresness #Alzheimers #AlzheimersAssociation #AlzheimersSociety #AlzheimersCare #AlzheimersCargiver #Alzheimerssupport #AlzheimersResearch #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth #Research #MedicalCannabis #CannabinoidMedicine #CBD #brainhealth

#REPOST Alzheimer Society of Canada: "Studies show that giving your brain a good 'workout' can help reduce your risk of dementia. It can be as simple as dialing a phone number with your less dominant hand, or as complex as learning a new language." The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada - and its many local chapters - are an incredible source of information and support to communities across the country. Earlier this summer, we had the pleasure of speaking with Christine Wright fro...m our local chapter, during our Lockdown Learning Series webisode exploring how to support loved ones living with dementia during the pandemic. One of her biggest messages was that people often wait too long before they get in touch for the first time. Her tip: Reach out at the earliest signs, as they are there to help and have a range of services available for individuals living with any type of dementia - as well as caregivers. You can watch a recording of our dementia webisode here www.drblakepearson.org/events and I’d also encourage you to check out their fantastic Brain Health resources at https://alzheimer.ca/en/Home/About-dementia/Brain-health. Alzheimer's Society Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton The Women's Alzheimer's Movement - WAM AlzheimersDisease.net Alzheimer's Association: The Longest Day #Dementia #LongTermCare #AlzheimersAwaresness #Alzheimers #AlzheimersAssociation #AlzheimersSociety #AlzheimersCare #AlzheimersCargiver #Alzheimerssupport #AlzheimersResearch #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth #Research #MedicalCannabis #CannabinoidMedicine #CBD #DementiaTreatment #AlzheimersTreatment #ALZTreatment #BrainHealth

Founded by Maria Shriver, the The Women's Alzheimer's Movement - WAM was created to answer the question of why two out of every three brains that develop Alzheimer’s belong to women, and why women of colour are at even higher risk. WAM is an incredible resource for anyone interested in understanding more about what steps they can take to prevent or slow Alzheimer’s. Check out their website for research, stats and helpful guides like the ones linked here https://thewomensalzh...eimersmovement.org/wam-guides/ They’re also active on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and are regularly posting helpful tips like the one I’ve re-shared here. Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Society Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton Alzheimer Society of Canada #gutbrainhealth #gutbrain #brainhealth #mindbodygreen #alzheimers #alzheimersawareness #alzheimersprevention #alzheimersdiet #healthyfoods #whattoeat #eatforyourmind #foryourmind #worldalzheimersmonth #WAM #womensalzheimersmovement #Dementia #LongTermCare #AlzheimersAwaresness #Alzheimers #AlzheimersAssociation #AlzheimersSociety #AlzheimersCare #AlzheimersCaregiver #Alzheimerssupport #AlzheimersResearch #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth

Today is World Alzheimer’s Day. Did you know - Nearly 750,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia - Every 65 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s disease - of those diagnosed are women - A woman in her sixties is twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease in her lifetime than breast cancer... - After 60, a woman has a 1 in 5 chance of developing Alzheimer’s These are alarming stats - but did you also know that healthy habits (think diet, exercise and lifestyle changes) can prevent or slow the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s doesn’t have to be a natural part of aging. Over the next few days we’ll be sharing some top tips from some Alzheimer’s experts around the world to help you feel empowered. Ontario Long Term Care Associaton Alzheimer's Association Alzheimer's Society Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton Alzheimer Society of Canada #Dementia #LongTermCare #AlzheimersAwaresness #Alzheimers #AlzheimersAssociation #AlzheimersSociety #AlzheimersCare #AlzheimersCargiver #Alzheimerssupport #AlzheimersResearch #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth

September marks World Alzheimer’s Month and this year, the Alzheimer’s community is facing more significant challenges than ever. Nearly 750,000 Canadians are living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Due to the significant and prolonged changes brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic, many patients are experiencing increases in symptoms including increased agitation, depression, insomnia and aggressive, and sometimes violent, behaviours. Current pharmaceutical therapie...s, including antipsychotic medications, may provide some reduction in behavioural symptoms but carry an increased risk of severe side-effects including stroke and death. As a result, many families are proactively asking for safer alternatives. There is a growing body of evidence for the use of cannabinoid-based medicines in the treatment of dementia-related symptoms and clinically, we’ve been seeing some outstanding outcomes since beginning therapy. I hope you’ll have a quick watch of this video to learn more. Ontario Long Term Care Associaton Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton Alzheimer's Society Alzheimer's Association Maria Shriver #Dementia #LongTermCare #AlzheimersAwaresness #Alzheimers #AlzheimersAssociation #AlzheimersSociety #AlzheimersCare #AlzheimersCargiver #Alzheimerssupport #AlzheimersResearch #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth

Encouraging news coming out of the University of Sydney in Australia. Researchers at the University’s Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics have just been awarded 1.7 million to research the severe chronic pain that commonly occurs after spinal cord injury. Why this matters: Current treatments for chronic pain caused by spinal injury can cause side effects almost as debilitating as the pain it is treating. For the very first time, researchers will investigate the ef...fects of CBD on brain function in chronic pain and the relationship between changes in pain and brain structure and function associated with CBD. The impact of this could be very wide reaching: While there are some studies showing that CBD can reduce pain in other chronic conditions, no one fully understands how it works to reduce pain. Our study can help tease this out, said researcher, Professor Luke Henderson. #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth #MedicalCannabis #CBD #MedicalCannabisPatient #CBDHealth #MedicalCannabisCommunity #CannabisCommunity #CannabisCulture #ChronicPain #OpioidReduction #Pain #PainManagement #PainRelief #ChronicPainWarrior

More strong evidence demonstrating why physicians and patients should feel comfortable prescribing and using cannabinoids as an alternative to opioids. Nine studies with 7,222 participants were reviewed to determine the effect of medical cannabis on opioid use. Between 64-75% of patients who began using medical cannabis were able to reduce their opioid use, and 32-59% were able to stop using opioids completely.... Opioids are tied to more daily deaths in this country than car accidents, while no human has ever reached a lethal dose of cannabis. When teaching physicians from different countries about cannabinoid based medicine I emphasize the safety profile of cannabinoids which is far superior than most prescription pain medications, and the evidence in the literature to support its use in place of opioids. #opioidcrisis #harmreduction #opioidreduction #opioidalternative #CBD #CannabinoidMedicine #MedicalCannabis #CannabisCommunity #science #study #addiction #GreenlyHealth #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth

I tried a little bit...and there’s just no looking back. It was probably one of the smartest things I ever did. -- Jim I’d like to introduce you to another one of my amazing patients who was kind enough to share his story to help educate others about the role cannabinoid therapy can play in managing chronic pain. When Jim was referred to me, his pain was so severe that he wasn’t comfortable doing anything. Even sitting for a period of time was painful, so needless to say hi...s quality of life was significantly affected. Cannabinoid therapy has been the only treatment that has made a difference in managing his chronic, severe pain. #ChronicPain #OpioidReduction #OpioidAlternative #CannabinoidTherapy #MedicalCannabis #CBD #PearsonHealth #DrBlakePearson #GreenlyHealth #Pain #PainManagement #PainRelief #ChronicPainWarrior #MedicalCannabisPatient

Yesterday was International Overdose Awareness Day. Eleven Canadians die every day due to opioid-related causes, and like so much else in the post-pandemic world, COVID has made the situation even worse. British Columbia and Alberta are two of the Canadian provinces hit the hardest by the opioid epidemic. After taking a terrible toll in 2017 and 2018, death rates in 2019 were significantly improving: Post-COVID, the opioid crisis is worse than ever.... While this is a complex public health problem with no easy solution, one thing is clear: If we can reduce opioid prescribing from the start, we can reduce dependency and ultimately reduce deaths. But as a medical community, we need to make some bold changes and be open to new approaches. In my previous role as the Primary Care Lead for our regional Opioid Reduction Strategy, I was proud to work with hundreds of forward-thinking physicians, pharmacists and nurses to provide education in how cannabinoids can be used as a safe and effective opioid alternative, in the management of chronic pain. As cannabinoids are opioid-sparing, they can also be used by physicians to help patients wean their current opioid dose. Sadly, despite the evidence and superior safety profile, cannabinoids are still extremely under-utilized by most physicians. With advances in both evidence and patient access, in 2020, there is no reason why cannabinoid medicine shouldn’t be part of every physician’s pain management toolbox, where it is legally available. In the meantime, my goal is to work with physicians from as many countries as possible, to evolve medicine and help further the international medical community’s thinking about pain management and harm reduction. CAMH Canadian Drug Policy Coalition #OpioidReduction #EndOverdose #COVID19 #PainManagement #Overdose #OverdoseAwarenessDay #InternationalOverdoseAwareness #HarmReduction #CannabinoidMedicine #MedicalCannabis #CannabisIsMedicine #Addiction

As anyone who has ever struggled with insomnia knows, when you get a regular, good night’s sleep, it can be life-changing. For people suffering with chronic pain, it can become a vicious circle: Your pain is disrupting your sleep and your lack of sleep is making your pain worse. There’s also a high correlation between chronic pain, insomnia and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Medical cannabis can be very effective in treating chronic pain and associated slee...p disorders and also improve feelings of depression and anxiety at the same time. #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth #MedicalCannabis #CannabisIsMedicine #Insomnia #ChronicPain #OpioidReduction #Pain #PainManagement #PainRelief #ChronicPainWarrior #Insomnia #InsomniaProblems #Sleep #InsomniaTrain #MedicalCannabis #CBD #MedicalCannabisPatient #CBDHealth

According to the latest data from the COVID-19 National survey from Canada’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, over the last 3 weeks, nearly 20% of respondents reported experiencing moderate to severe anxiety. Over 27% engaged in binge drinking, 23% felt lonely and nearly 19% felt depressed. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you’re not alone. Earlier this summer, I sat down with two experts in the field to chat about how to deal with chronic worry and anxiet...y and the impact this ongoing worry is having on relationships, during our Lockdown Learning Series. Both these episodes are available for you to watch on demand on our website: www.drblakepearson.org/events. Simply scroll down to episodes 2 and 3 and have a watch. #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth #Covid19 #Anxietytreatment #Depressiontreatment #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness

Did you know When used together, CBD can mitigate the impairing effects of THC. Researcher’s from London Ontario’s Western University have shown for the first time the molecular mechanisms that cause CBD to block the psychiatric side-effects caused by THC, the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis. Why this matters: Both CBD and THC have unique therapeutic benefits; however, while CBD causes no impairing effects, this is not the case with THC. While these effects can gener...ally be managed by taking a low and slow approach, for individuals more prone to cannabis-related side-effects this discovery opens up a new frontier for developing more effective and safer THC formulations. Roger Hudson, lead author on the study, says another interesting finding was that CBD alone had had no effect on the ERK pathway (which triggers the neuropsychiatric effects of THC): CBD by itself had no effect. However, by co-administering CBD and THC, we completely reversed the direction of the change on a molecular level. CBD was also able to reverse the anxiety-like behaviour and addictive-like behaviour caused by the THC. https://www.healtheuropa.eu/study-cbd-offsets-thc/93855/ #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth #MedicalCannabis #CBD #MedicalCannabisPatient #CBDHealth #MedicalCannabisCommunity #CannabisCommunity #CannabisCulture #CBDCommunity #CannabisResearch

I’d like to introduce you to my patient, John, who very kindly offered to share the story of his cannabinoid therapy journey. John suffers from essential tremor which makes anything that involves fine motor skills a real challenge. Everyday activities that most of us take for granted, like eating and drinking, or household tasks like screwing a nut onto a bolt, we're all very difficult for John until he began cannabinoid therapy. While these improvements may seem small to peo...ple who are fortunate enough to live tremor-free, they have given John back his independence which is something to celebrate. #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth #tremors #EssentialTremors #EssentialTremorAwareness #MedicalCannabis #CBD #MedicalCannabisPatient #CBDHealth #MedicalCannabisCommunity #CannabisCommunity #ParkinsonsDisease #Parkinsons #ParkinsonsFighter

This is absolutely heartbreaking. With conclusive evidence supporting the use of cannabinoid-based medicines in the treatment of rare refractory epilepsy cases, it’s disturbing that these poor parents have to go through this in order to get their son the life-saving medication he needs. Maybe you’d expect this kind of resistance in less developed countries, but the fact that this is still happening in the UK today is unacceptable. The first rule of medicine is to do no harm...: By remaining grossly uninformed of the science behind cannabinoid-based medicines, the UK healthcare system is failing its citizens. This should not be happening in 2020 when the evidence and availability of quality training is at their fingertips. Epilepsy Ontario Epilepsy Canada Epilepsy Society Epilepsy Action #DrBlakePearson #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth #Epilepsy #MedicalCannabis #CannabisIsMedicine #Healthcare #MedicalCoverage #MedicalAccess #CBDCommunity #Physician #UK #Epilepsyawareness #Epilepsywarrior #Epilepsysupport

One of the many benefits of cannabinoid-based medicine is that it is opioid-sparing, meaning that when combined with an opioid, it can help a patient reduce their opioid dose. Opioid-sparing drugs allow the patient to feel a similar level of pain relief while taking fewer opioids, which is why it was a key part of my strategy when I was working with the Erie St. Clair LHIN as the Primary Care Lead for their addiction and opioid reduction strategy. Not only does cannabinoid-...based medicine have opioid-sparing effects, clinically, I have seen a number of patients that have been able to wean off their opioids completely. Ontario Medical Association Canadian Centre on Substance Use / Centre canadien sur les dépendances Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario Addiction Services of Thames Valley #OpioidReduction #OpioidAddiction #Cannabinoids #MedicalCannabis #Cannabisismedicine #PearsonHealth #GreenlyHealth #DrBlakePearson #ChronicPain #AddictionMedicine #CBD #CannabinoidMedicine

Another early start today to deliver virtual training to the doctors I’ve been working with in Australia. Today’s group was from Western Australia where the time difference isn’t so bad - a 7:00 a.m. start is a-okay! Next week, I’ll be circling back with the Eastern Australia and New Zealand group I’ve been working with and that’s a 4:30 a.m. start time for me...which requires a VERY early morning dip in the lake to wake up! It’s a great day when I can teach in the morning a...nd see patients later on - two of the best parts of my job! Hope everyone is having a great day as well! #GreenlyHealth #PearsonHealth #CBDCommunity #MedicalCannabis #CannabinoidMedicine #cannabisdoctor #functionalmedicine #cannabisdoctorsaustralia #cannabisdoctorscanada #medicalstudent #continuingeducation #CME #DrBlakePearson #CBD #medicalcannabiscanada #medicalcannabisaustralia Medical Cannabis Research Australia