CBD and Addiction
CBD: A New Pharmacological Tool in the Battle Against Addiction
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a promising treatment option for people struggling with addiction. It could potentially be used to help people in rehabilitation from various drug addictions, including alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, and heroin.
The discovery of CBD as a treatment for addiction comes at an especially pressing time, as the opioid epidemic in the US reaches new highs. Nearly 50,000 people in the US die every year from an opioid overdose, which includes narcotic drugs such as morphine, heroin, opium, oxycontin, and fentanyl.
CBD may be effective at lowering the potential risk of relapse in individuals struggling with addiction due to its anti-anxiety and stress management effects. CBD is also known to have an impact on the brain circuitry responsible for drug craving and seeking behaviors.
Recent studies have shown very promising results for the use of CBD as a treatment for addiction, but more research is still needed.
In one study, researchers observed three groups of people. All were formerly addicted to heroin and attempting to stay clean. One group took 400mg of CBD. Another took 800mg of CBD. And the third group had nothing—they were the placebo group.
The study, which was published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, found that the participants who were dosed with CBD experienced fewer drug cravings, reduced levels of anxiety, and lowered levels of the stress hormone cortisol. These effects of CBD on addiction were prevalent as soon as one hour after dosing but lasted up to one week.
CBD may be a viable treatment for addiction to substances such as:
- Heroin
- Methamphetamines
- Cocaine
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Prescription painkillers (like OxyContin)
CBD is a promising candidate as a clinical treatment for addiction, however, more studies are required before the full short- and long-term effects of CBD are known.
Sources:
https://www.recoveryanswers.org/research-post/cbd-effect-drug-craving-anxiety-heroin-use/
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Can-CBD-be-Used-to-Treat-Drug-Addiction.aspx
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/opioid-overdose-crisis
