Can CBD Oil Help with Drug Addiction?
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 19.7 million American citizens (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017. Drug abuse and addiction cost American’s more than $740 billion annually in lost workplace productivity, healthcare expenses, and crime-related costs. More importantly than the loss of money, about 192 Americans die each day due to select prescription and illicit drug overdoses. Drug addiction is a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by the compulsive desire to use drugs and a loss of control over consumption.
CBD Oil for Drug Addiction
To help combat the addiction and drug abuse crisis our world is facing, medical professional have begun to explore cannabis and more specifically, Cannabidiol (CBD), based treatments. Although not confirmed or approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration(FDA), CBD is thought to regulate various neuronal circuits involved in drug addiction. A limited number of preclinical studies suggest that CBD may have therapeutic properties on opioid, cocaine, and psychostimulant addiction. Some preliminary data even suggests that it may be beneficial in cannabis and tobacco addiction in humans.
A CBD Oil Study
In 2009, Mount Sinai School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry found that when rats where administered CBD (5-20mg), there was a reduction in heroin-seeking behavior reinstated by exposure to conditioned stimulus cue. They also found that CBD has a prolonged effects with significance evident after 24 hours and even 2 weeks after administration. The findings in this study led the team to conclude that CBD may be a potential treatment for heroin craving and relapse.
How CBD Oil Helps
Substance use disorders are chronically relapsing conditions. Relapse risk persists for multiple reasons including cravings induced by drug contexts, susceptibility to stress, elevated anxiety, and impaired impulse control. A more recent medical article published in 2018 by a group of medical professionals evaluated the “anti-relapse” potential of CBD in animal models of drug seeking, anxiety, and impulsivity. They found CBD reduced context-induced and stress-induced drug seeking without tolerance, sedative effects, or interference with normal motivated behavior.
Although CBD is not recognized by the FDA as having medical benefits, studies across the world have shown promise for this cannabis component. A 2019 Consumer Report showed 22% of CBD users replaced their RX and OTC drugs with CBD. Out of that 22%, 36% replaced opioids with CBD. CBD is easily accessible throughout the country without the need for a prescription or participation in a state sponsored medical marijuana program. This amazing cannabinoid can be consumed in many forms ranging from cannabidiol tinctures, CBD hemp flower, CBD vapes, CBD edibles, and CBD topicals.
*If you are thinking about using CBD in place or in combination with any prescription drugs please consult a health care professional before doing so.
Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. All information presented here is not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from health care practitioners. Please consult your health care professional about potential interactions or other possible complications before using any product. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires this notice.