An alternative way to manage substance abuse

One of the most exciting new discoveries in addiction science is the possibility that cannabis and CBD could help with substance use disorders.

According to the World Health Organization, around 31 million people globally have drug abuse disorders. For those people, there may be hope in the form of one of the world’s oldest crops: cannabis. Cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabis extract, might be helpful too.

More and more people are using either CBD or marijuana to manage their substance use and successfully get off drugs, which is ironic considering that cannabis was once considered a “gateway drug.” Here’s what you need to know about CBD, marijuana, and addiction.

Research on CBD, marijuana, and addictions

While the benefits of CBD and marijuana have been studied a great deal, there’s still so much we don’t know about it. This is actually pretty exciting—in the near future, we could possibly uncover dozens of new uses for it.

One possible benefit of CBD and marijuana is its ability to help people manage their addictions.

Back in 2015, a review of studies looked at 14 studies on using CBD to treat drug addiction (including opioid, cocaine, and tobacco addiction). While the authors concluded that it needed to be studied further, they agreed that CBD showed potential in managing addictions.

Since then, further studies have been conducted—and the results were quite hopeful.

A 2018 study looked at animal models of addiction. It found that CBD helped reduce poor impulse control, anxiety, and sensitivity to stress in these animal models. A 2017 paper pointed out that there is a “strong scientific basis” for using CBD to treat heroin addiction.

So, while more studies are needed before we know for sure, CBD seems to help a great deal with managing addictions. This provides a great deal of hope to those who are addicted.

Managing withdrawal symptoms

Drug withdrawal is incredibly tough on both the body and the mind. The symptoms of drug withdrawal depend on the drug you’re withdrawing from, but generally, it can include:

• Pain and cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Anxiety, depression, and listlessness
• Sweats
• Sleep problems

During the drug withdrawal phase, many people relapse because the symptoms can be unbearable. Numerous drugs have been developed to help with these uncomfortable symptoms, but many of them have side effects, too.

Cannabis and CBD might be able to help with certain withdrawal symptoms. Here’s how:

Pain and cramps

Aches and cramps often accompany drug withdrawal. CBD and cannabis are often used for pain—in fact, pain relief is one of the most common uses for medical marijuana, according to the Harvard Health Blog.

One 2018 review found that CBD helped those with hard-to-treat pain, including neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, and cancer-related pain. The researchers concluded that CBD could be a groundbreaking pain-relieving substance, although it needs to be studied further.

Nausea and vomiting

Cannabis can affect your digestive system in a few different ways. In certain studies, cannabis and CBD both seem to reduce nausea—even in cancer patients, who experience notoriously hard-to-treat nausea and vomiting.

THC, which is the chemical in cannabis that gets you high, stimulates appetite (which is why munchies is a thing!). While the munchies may seem like an annoying side effect of cannabis, stimulating the appetite might be helpful for people who are struggling to eat during withdrawal.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a common symptom of drug withdrawal, whether that drug is nicotine, alcohol, or opioids. CBD and cannabis are both known to have anti-anxiety effects, which can help people who are trying to manage their addictions.

Many people find that CBD and cannabis lift their mood, helping them feel happier and more positive. Given that substance abuse disorder is associated with other mental illnesses like depression and anxiety, CBD and cannabis can be a lifeline.

Sleep

Sleep problems are common in people who are withdrawing from drug use, in part because of the pain, sweats, and anxiety that is caused by withdrawal. There is scientific evidence that suggests both CBD and cannabis can help treat sleep issues, including insomnia.

Many people vape cannabis or use CBD before sleeping in order to get a good night’s rest.

Smoking replacement

If you’re a nicotine addict, vaping CBD or marijuana might help you quit smoking. The act of dragging and inhaling can be comforting if you’re used to using cigarettes. However, because it does not contain tobacco, you won’t be inhaling any nicotine, which means it’s far better for your health.

It’s widely known that vaping is better than smoking cannabis or hemp because it doesn’t involve combustion. Vaping involves heating your cannabis to the optimum level, before the point of combustion, which means you don’t inhale the harmful smoke. This means that vaping is much easier on the lungs—a benefit you’ll definitely need if you’ve smoked cigarettes in the past.

What you need to know before using CBD or cannabis to manage your addiction

Before using any supplement or tool to manage your addiction, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider, including a doctor and/or therapist. They are best equipped to advise you on whether it can help you and how to use it.

Bear in mind that THC can be addictive. So, if you’re using marijuana to manage your addiction, it’s a good idea to have the help and support of a cannabis-friendly therapist to guide you.

CBD is considered safe for consumption, but there are a few possible side effects, including nausea, fatigue, and changes in appetite and weight. CBD also interacts with certain medications, so talk to your doctor before using it.

Cannabis and CBD both have the potential to help people manage addiction and soothe the symptoms of drug withdrawal. While it needs to be studied further, many people have used it to successfully quit their addictions.

Resources

Babson KA, et al. (2017). Cannabis, cannabinoids, and sleep: A review of the literature. DOI:
10.1007/s11920-017-0775-9

Bergamaschi MM. (2011). Safety and side effects of cannabidiol, a cannabis sativa constituent. DOI: 10.2174/157488611798280924

Bitencourt RM, et al. (2018). Cannabidiol as a therapeutic alternative for post-traumatic stress disorder: From bench research to confirmation in human trials. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00502

Elms L, et al. (2019). Cannabidiol in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: A case series. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2018.0437

Grinspoon, P. et al. 2018. Medical Marijuana. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/medical-marijuana-2018011513085

Gonzales-Cuevas et al. (2018). Unique treatment potential of cannabidiol for the prevention of relapse to drug use: preclinical proof of principle. DOI: 10.1038/s41386-018-0050-8

Hurd, Y. (2017). Cannabidiol: swinging the marijuana pendulum from ‘weed’ to medication to treat the opioid epidemic. DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2016.12.006

National Cancer Institute (2016). Cannabis and cannabinoids. cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq

Shannon S, et al. Cannabidiol in anxiety and sleep: A large case series. DOI: 10.7812/TPP/18-041

Vučković S, et al. (2018). Cannabinoids and pain: New insights from old molecules. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01259