CBD For Addiction: Can The Remedy Help?

Do you ask yourself whether CBD can help with drug addiction? CBD can remedy drug addiction. What is CBD? How does CBD work? CBD's potential in treating drug addiction and the current state of drug addiction treatment.

Substance use disorders, such as drug addiction, are conditions characterized by a relapse risk that is elevated when substance cues, susceptibility to stress and anxiety, and poor impulse control are present. The United States continues to see an increase in the number of people who are struggling with drug addiction, which has resulted in an increased demand for innovative therapeutic protocols and treatments that are also effective. Although no research shows CBD oil is effective in treating addiction, it can help people living with an active addiction successfully manage other issues that may contribute to their use of drugs and alcohol. While no research shows CBD oil is effective in treating addiction, there is proof to help people successfully manage other issues that may contribute to their use of drugs. Read on to find out more about CBD for drug addiction; Learn more about can cbd be used as a treatment for diabetes?

What is CBD?

Hill (2019) said that the statutory medical use of marijuana and cannabinoids is a topic that is generating more discussion. Even though cannabis and its derivatives have been shown to have beneficial effects when used in medical settings, there are still issues to be resolved regarding the drug's potential short-term and long-term adverse effects. These effects include the possibility of developing a drug dependency and psychotic illnesses. Cannabidiol is a component of cannabis that, in its purest form, does not produce euphoric effects and does not lead to addiction, making it an appealing option for use in developing medicinal medications.

Cannabidiol (CBD), which has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, may help reduce the frequency and severity of seizures experienced by persons with epilepsy. Yücel et al. (2019) examined the likelihood of CBD to help curb the cravings that are connected with substance abuse.

How CBD Works

Despite the significant amount of study done in this field, the precise mechanism of CBD is not yet completely understood. De Almeida & Devi (2020) discovered that CBD suppresses the endocannabinoid system, which is comprised of receptors in the brain and throughout the body. Suphioglu et al. (2020) said that CBD is known to bind to receptors in the brain. The endocannabinoid system is responsible for various processes, including regulating mood, appetite, memory, and the sense of pain. CBD binds to serotonin and adenosine receptors, which affect how we experience pain and how inflammation manifests itself in the body. CBD, in contrast to THC, does not bind to the CB1 or CB2 receptors in the brain. This means that even though CBD operates similarly to how a drug would, it does not result in the same "high" state that is commonly associated with drug usage.

CBD's Potential in Treating Drug Addiction

Danciu (2019) noted that CBD has been getting a lot of attention as of late due to the possibility that it can treat addiction to substances like alcohol and drugs. Salsitz et al. (2019) found that the potential of CBD in terms of its significance in the prevention of relapse in drug use is the primary focus of the research in this field. CBD helps lower anxiety and tension related to drug cues and influences antidepressant activity. This allows CBD to target risk states associated with relapse to drug use. CBD affects the neural circuitry in the brain that is responsible for drug craving and seeking behaviors brought on by the presence of drug-related circumstances or stress.

The implications of CBD for developing new treatments for drug addiction have attracted the research community's interest, which is looking into therapeutic solutions for drug addiction and relapse. Considering CBD's neuropharmacological and behavioral effects and its impact on the neurocircuitry that controls addiction, CBD's potential role in developing new treatments for drug addiction has attracted this interest.

Studies in animals that investigated the use of CBD as a potential therapy for cocaine self-administration have shown conflicting results. After receiving CBD treatment, rats did not demonstrate a reduction in their self-administration of cocaine. However, mice showed a drop in cocaine use. The potential of CBD was studied by Gonzales-Cuevas and colleagues using animal models of drug desire, impulsivity, and anxiety. During the investigation, CBD was administered every 24 hours to rats with a history of self-administering alcohol and cocaine. The study lasted for seven days. This research shed light on two distinct facets of CBD's possible applications. First, CBD influenced relapse conditions such as sensitivity to drug environment and stress, decreased impulse control, and anxiety. These conditions are all associated with an increased risk of relapse. This provides evidence that CBD may potentially reduce vulnerability states in rats, which are states that encourage relapse. Second, the effects of CBD lasted for a considerable amount of time in the animals despite the very brief duration of the treatment. The disparities between these animal studies, which may be attributable to variances in methodology, highlight the importance of conducting additional research into this contentious field of scientific inquiry.

The participants reported significantly higher cravings after viewing the heroin-related videos than the neutral ones. After being exposed to cues related to drug use, participants who took CBD as part of the treatment reported having fewer desires to use drugs than those in the placebo group. The findings also indicate a reduction in anxious feelings, a slower heart rate, and lower cortisol levels, popular as the "stress hormone." After the administration of CBD, the effects of the intervention could be seen as early as one hour later, and they remained noticeable for up to one week after the intervention had taken place.

The Current State of Drug Addiction Treatment and CBD

The currently available treatment for opioid addiction has only a transitory effect because the substances themselves contain addictive qualities. CBD has shown promise as a potential alternative treatment for drug addiction that does not itself cause greater dependency on the drug. Despite this, cannabidiol (CBD) may effectively treat drug addiction. Animals are used throughout the pre-clinical testing process, and very few experiments are conducted on humans. No clinical trials have been conducted on people, and it will be highly crucial to investigate the long-term effects of CBD consumption that extend beyond a single week of treatment. CBD is now a viable contender for drug addiction treatment; however, at this moment, additional study needs to be carried out before you can utilize it safely to treat drug addiction.

Conclusion

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound found in cannabis that advocates claim can treat virtually every medical condition. The fact of the matter is that very little research has been conducted to ascertain unequivocally which problems if any, can be favorably affected by the usage of the chemical. The cellular level and rodents have been the subjects of the majority of the concrete investigations that have been conducted about the function and possible applications of the medicine. Some evidence suggests that those who struggle with anxiety, sadness, or PTSD may benefit from using CBD. This evidence comes in the form of hypotheses supported by research studies. Because the symptoms of any of these conditions can be debilitating, many seek relief from their suffering by using drugs or alcohol rather than consulting a medical professional. This increases the likelihood that a substance use problem will develop later in life.

References

Chye, Y., Christensen, E., Solowij, N., & Yücel, M. (2019). The Endocannabinoid System And Cannabidiol's Promise For The Treatment Of Substance Use Disorder. Frontiers In Psychiatry, 10, 63.

De Almeida, D. L., & Devi, L. A. (2020). Diversity Of Molecular Targets And Signaling Pathways For CBD. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 8(6), E00682.

Hill, K. P. (2019). Medical Use Of Cannabis In 2019. Jama, 322(10), 974-975.

Hurd, Y. L., Spriggs, S., Alishayev, J., Winkel, G., Gurgov, K., Kudrich, C., ... & Salsitz, E. (2019). Cannabidiol For The Reduction Of Cue-Induced Craving And Anxiety In Drug-Abstinent Individuals With Heroin Use Disorder: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. American Journal Of Psychiatry, 176(11), 911-922.

Kis, B., Ifrim, F. C., Buda, V., Avram, S., Pavel, I. Z., Antal, D., ... & Danciu, C. (2019). Cannabidiol—From Plant To Human Body: A Promising Bioactive Molecule With Multi-Target Effects In Cancer. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, 20(23), 5905.