REWARDS
Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychoactive chemical compound found in cannabis, has been gaining praise recently for its long list of medical benefits. People suffering from physical pain, anxiety, depression, IBS, and other conditions are finding relief through the use of CBD. Now, clinical studies show that CBD can aid those suffering from drug and alcohol addiction.
Substance abuse and addiction is an increasingly fatal problem in the world today. It is an issue that desperately needs more attention. The most common treatments and pharmaceuticals used to treat addiction come with disastrous side effects. Research suggests that CBD could be a breakthrough treatment in treating addiction and withdrawal symptoms.
Current treatments for addiction include rehabilitation centers and medication. Although beneficial for some, these facilities can be too expensive for the average addict. Less expensive treatment centers are sometimes available, but are typically short on funds. This leads to minimal security, and often drug use within these low end centers, among other numerous issues that inhibit recovery.
According to the American Addiction Centers, in 2013, only 10.9 percent of individuals who needed treatment in a specialized facility for a substance use or dependency concern actually received it. In addition to this, the relapse rate in addicts is high – between 40 and 60 percent.
Study Shows CBD Could Be A Viable Treatment For Addicts
According to The Kansas City Star, a study conducted earlier this year found that CBD may help prevent relapse for drug and alcohol addicts.
In this study, researchers administered CBD oil to rats that consumed alcohol or cocaine every day. The rats received a daily treatment of CBD for one straight week, to see whether CBD could reduce the rats’ intake of cocaine. More specifically, whether CBD would help them fight the urge to get their cocaine fix while under “stressful conditions.”
The study concluded that CBD helped the rats consume less alcohol and cocaine, even when they were placed in anxiety-inducing situations (a typical trigger for human drug addicts and alcoholics). Furthermore, rats who had CBD applied to their skin were less anxious and less impulsive.
Notably, this results weren’t just temporary. Scientists claimed that the one-week treatment of CBD provided “beneficial results” for up to five months, even without further use of the CBD.
Friedbert Weiss, leader of an investigative team at the Scripps Research Institute, reported in a press release that this study provides “proof of principle supporting potential of CBD in relapse prevention,” for the compound helped the rats resist certain “would-be” triggers, providing positive results for months afterward.
He added, “The efficacy of CBD to reduce reinstatement in rats with both alcohol and cocaine, and, as previously reported, heroin, predicts therapeutic potential for addiction treatment across several classes of abused drugs.”
How Does CBD Help Fight Addiction?
There are two well known cannabinoid receptors in the human body and brain, known as the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CBD interacts with these receptors, modulating neurotransmitter release to prevent excessive neuronal activity. Too much neuronal activity is linked to issues with anxiety, pain and inflammation, movement, and perception and memory. Hindering this neuronal activity can aid in reducing these issues.
CBD works to mediate cytokine release syndrome, a form of systemic inflammatory response syndrome that reduces inflammation and pain. A study conducted in 2015 suggested that CBD had over a dozen applications and potential benefits, including treating the liver and aiding in metabolic syndrome. Overall, the effects of CBD in the body work to help regulate dopamine and serotonin production, reduce pain and inflammation, and reduce cravings.
CBD Has Very Minimal Side Effects
Traditional treatments and medication for addiction can have many adverse side effects. Often times these medications can cause other substance and mental issues. These issues become detrimental for most addicts trying to find relief.
Multiple studies have indicated that CBD has minimal to no side effects, and have claimed that the cannabinoid is safe for anyone to consume. However, your body may have some secondary responses to the effects of CBD.
Several small-scale studies have looked into the safety of CBD in adults to find the wellness supplement to be well-tolerated across the board under many circumstances.
To date, there have been no significant side effects in the central nervous system, effects on vital signs, or individuals’ moods among those who take CBD regularly or on occasion. The most commonly reported side effect of CBD has been tiredness. Other users have also noticed changes in appetite or weight, and in cases of extreme over consumption, bouts of diarrhea. Although these may occur, it is quite rare.
Takeaways
- CBD has potential to provide relief for those struggling with addiction and relapse.
- Traditional medications and treatment for addiction are often ineffective.
- Studies have proven that CBD has prolonging benefits, even weeks after consumption.
- CBD has very minimal side effects
If you or someone you know is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, it’s worth discussing CBD as an option. CBD has been proven through numerous studies to help curb drug cravings. In addition to this, it can help prevent symptoms in relapse and withdrawal. The cannabinoid has already shown many promising results for people suffering from a wide range of health conditions from epilepsy to cancer, and could be the answer to the opioid crisis.
Daintri’s focus is on health and wellness. We curate only the best of the best CBD products to help you live your healthiest life. If there are any questions about products, manufacturing processes or extraction methods, please let us know. We are on a mission to help as many people as possible with the health ailments of CBD.