Role of Cannabidiol in the Therapeutic Intervention for Substance Use Disorders

A study published by the American Journal of Psychiatry demonstrates that CBD treatment can reduce cravings for heroin drug addiction. Research on CBD’s impact on psychostimulant addiction, including cocaine and methamphetamine, suggests promising results. CBD has been shown to reverse toxicity and seizures induced by cocaine, reduce behavioral sensitization induced by amphetamines, and decrease the motivation to is cannabidiol addictive self-administer these drugs.

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Schematic representation of the mechanisms underlying the CBD’s actions on the effects were elicited by drug abuse. Research suggests that using products with higher THC levels is linked to a higher risk for addiction. While CBD products often purport to have no THC or very low levels of THC, they often contain more than labels suggest. This means that taking CBD may lead to accidental exposure to THC, which could potentially lead to addiction if taken in sufficient amounts. Check your state laws to ensure that these products are legal where you live. Federal law mandates that hemp-derived CBD products should contain less than 0.3% THC, but even those trace amounts are still illegal in some states.

Natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory properties

While research on CBD and drug interactions is ongoing, it has been found to interact with antidepressants, opioid pain relievers, anti-epileptic drugs, alcohol, and acetaminophen. Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a common side effect of different medications and substances. The exact reasons why CBD causes this effect are not fully understood, but some research suggests that CBD’s impact on the endocannabinoid system might affect how saliva is produced. Generally speaking, cannabidiol (CBD) is considered a safe substance when applied topically or taken orally. There are, however, some potential side effects to keep in mind when using this substance, the majority of which are mild. “You’ll know the quality of the product and the dose you’re receiving, and they’ll monitor you carefully to ensure your safety,” he says.

First Day of Rehab

Inhaled CBD (400 µg/inhalation) was effective to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked after one week of treatment. Nevertheless, CBD treatment did not attenuate nicotine craving and showed only a slight, non-significant reduction in anxiety after the 7 days treatment (Morgan et al., 2013). A few years later, the administration of a single dose of CBD (800 mg) in non-treatment seeking, dependent, cigarette smokers after overnight abstinence did not improve verbal or spatial working memory, or impulsivity (Hindocha et al., 2018). However, the same group demonstrated that CBD (single 800 mg dose) reduced attentional bias after a period of tobacco abstinence without improving craving or withdrawal (Hindocha et al., 2018). Recently, a preclinical study was conducted to analyze the effects of CBD (10 and 30 mg/kg) in mice exposed to an animal model of pharmacologically precipitated nicotine withdrawal.

• Elsewhere, intra-CA1 microinjection of D1R antagonist impaired CBD’s suppressive impact on the acquisition and expression phases of METH-induced CPP in rats (Nouri et al., 2021).
• Instead, it helps to increase the sensitivity of cannabinoid receptors to bind with cannabinoids and inhibits the breakdown of cannabinoids for better cell signaling within the ECS.
• Before trying CBD, talk with a licensed physician about safe dosages, possible adverse interactions with other medications you may be taking and alternatives that may be more effective and safe.
• Thus, the great and growing interest in CBD as a new drug for AUD management is more than evident.
• CBD can increase the level of blood thinning and other medicines in your blood by competing for the liver enzymes that break down these drugs.
• Some drugs of abuse (e.g., alcohol, cannabis) stimulate the release of endogenous opioids leading to a MOR-mediated increase of DA release in the NAcc (Tanda and Di Chiara, 1998).
• Although CBD in certain forms (cosmetics, oils, creams) is legal in most states, it must be a product of hemp and contain less than 0.3% THC.

How do I use CBD products?

CBD may also interact with other over-the-counter and prescription drugs, including blood thinners. To date, CBD doesn’t appear to have a high potential for abuse or addiction. Homeostasis is the idea that all biological systems are constantly regulating to stay within optimal levels (i.e., equilibrium).

• It is generally well-tolerated, and extremely high doses may lead to side effects such as drowsiness or gastrointestinal issues.
• The sudden influx of dopamine causes it to gradually increase in the nucleus accumbens, a brain’s area within the hypothalamus that controls addictive behaviors.
• Since CBD doesn’t induce intoxication, it has a similar potential for abuse to placebo.
• In 2018, the Farm Bill made hemp legal in the United States, making it virtually impossible to keep CBD illegal — that would be like making oranges legal, but keeping orange juice illegal.

Medical Marijuana: Facts about cannabis, THC, and CBD

Because the FDA currently does not regulate CBD, there are no specific recommended doses. Doses in most clinical trials have ranged from 100 to 800 milligrams a day. More than 250 clinical trials on CBD benefits have been completed or are recruiting participants. Researchers are studying how CBD might benefit people with cancer, schizophrenia, cognitive impairment, quitting smoking, bipolar depression, and more.

What Do Studies Say Regarding CBD Dependency?

While these two products come from the hemp plant, they have very different uses. Addiction experts believe that early, repeated exposure to drug stimuli can play a significant role in the likelihood of addiction. This suggests that experimentation with drugs and alcohol at a young age may affect one’s tolerance and the likelihood of abuse in the future. Those experiencing drug addiction must seek professional help for guidance on how to quit addictive behaviors. Certain substances are more inherently physically addictive than others. If you use a substance frequently enough, your body will adjust to the active compounds, making them less likely to respond to the stimulus and requiring more to feel the same effects level.

• The main difference in varieties comes down to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content.
• Indeed, recent studies carried out in mice in our laboratory further demonstrate that CBD is not an addictive substance.
• It should mentione that most of the studies were designed to evaluate the application of CBD for the treatment of drug abuse.
• First discovered during the 1940s, CBD has recently become more popular as a natural treatment for a range of conditions.
• Diarrhea, nausea, headache, and drowsiness were the most frequently reported adverse events across all trial arms in subjects taking CBD.

CBD inhibited the naloxone withdrawal–induced jumping and reduced defecation and rearing behaviors. Unlike THC, CBD is a negative allosteric modulator of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1R) and 2 (CB2R) receptors (Laprairie et al., 2015; Martínez-Pinilla et al., 2017) (Fig. 1). The role of CB1R in substance abuse disorders is controversial and may depend upon the phase of drug abuse (Galaj et al., 2020; Parker et al., 2004).

Only one CBD product (Epidiolex, a medication that treats seizures) has been approved by the FDA. A 2015 review of research found strong evidence that CBD may help treat a range of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Proponents of CBD oil and other CBD products claim that it can be used to treat conditions such as chronic pain, inflammation, migraines, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, depression, and anxiety. A pilot study explored the use of CBD in reducing cigarette consumption among tobacco smokers. Participants who used a CBD inhaler significantly reduced their cigarette consumption by approximately 40% during the treatment week, while those using a placebo showed no change. This suggests that CBD could be a potential treatment for nicotine addiction, warranting further investigation.