As of this writing, the FDA has approved only one CBD product, Epidiolex, for the treatment of rare, severe forms of epilepsy. If you are buying other CBD products today, their therapeutic benefits are unsubstantiated, and they are largely unregulated in terms of safety. Current research suggests that CBD is not addictive and may offer therapeutic benefits for various substance use disorders, including opioid, psychostimulant, and nicotine addiction. While preliminary findings are promising, further studies are necessary to fully understand CBD’s potential and mechanisms as an intervention for addictive behaviors.
The Potential Side Effects of CBD
A number of reports suggests that psychoactive substances with addictive potential modify neurogenesis in the adult HIPP (Castilla-Ortega et al., 2016). The subventricular zone (SVZ) and the subgranular layer of the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) are the brain regions where adult neurogenesis occurs. These alterations may affect several drug-related psychological processes such as learning, memory and mood regulation (Canales, 2007). ECS is a ubiquitous lipid signaling system distributed throughout the organism that participates in multiple intracellular signaling pathways (Piomelli, 2003; Zou and Kumar, 2018). ECS regulates several physiological functions and mediates the crosstalk between different neurotransmitter systems, therefore, representing a key player in the control of behavioral responses (Katona and Freund, 2012; Atkinson and Abbott, 2018). As recently and extensively reviewed by our group and other authors, ECS is critically involved in the neurobiological substrate underlying drug addiction.
- Individuals suffering from cannabis use disorder, CBD (400 and 800 mg) was efficacious to reduce rates of cannabis abuse (Freeman et al., 2020).
- While CBD oil is considered harmless, some people may have negative effects, the majority of which are caused by incorrect doses.
- These include drug and alcohol detox, inpatient or residential rehab, co-occurring disorders treatment, and aftercare programs.
How do I use CBD products?
Even more disturbing is is cannabidiol addictive the presence of substances not listed on the label. Those can include dangerous heavy metals and significant doses of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) — the compound in marijuana that induces a high. “It’s premature to say CBD is effective for any specific medical condition.
What Are The Effects Of CBD?
Even if you don’t physically feel different (although many people do), that doesn’t mean you’re not receiving health benefits. In those states, most people must be over 18 or 21 to purchase CBD products. When shopping for a CBD product, it’s incredibly important to read the ingredients and determine if there’s a high concentration of THC in it. Some CBD products contain high amounts of THC, while others only have trace amounts.
CBD is not regulated by the FDA, so it is important to purchase products from reputable sources. Additionally, research has suggested that CBD may be beneficial for those with substance use disorders. A recent study found that CBD was able to reduce the number of drinking days and reduce the amount of alcohol consumed by those with an alcohol use disorder.
- Since THC can be habit-forming, it’s important to know the difference between CBD oil sources.
- With certain substances, developing a high tolerance is extremely dangerous as it increases the likelihood of a lethal overdose.
- The New England Journal of Medicine also published a study lately saying there is some evidence it may be effective during epileptic seizures.
- “In the next few years, we hope to have concrete information about the best dosing protocols for specific symptoms and conditions.
- It can offset the effects of human experimental anxiety from caffeine, nicotine, and other legal substances.
How Is CBD Taken?
- However, you should be sure to purchase CBD products from reputable brands only and look for a certificate of analysis (CoA) to ensure the product contains only what is advertised.
- Future studies could take these restrictions into account and focus on evaluating CBD’s effects in the various stages of psychotic disorders, considering the high prevalence of comorbidity with substance abuse disorder.
- Its potential impact on mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression has been a specific point of interest for many.
The positive effects of CBD detected in the animal models of alcohol addictions justified further studies evaluating the therapeutic effects of CBD in patients seeking treatment for alcohol use disorder (Nona et al., 2019; Turna et al., 2019) (Table 1). In the context of reinstatement, cocaine-induced reconsolidation and priming-induced reinstatement remained unchanged following CBD (10 mg/kg) treatment (Chesworth and Karl, 2020; Luján et al., 2018). However, in other studies, CBD at different doses blocked priming- and stress-induced reinstatement of cocaine in mice (Calpe-López et al., 2021) and the reconsolidation of propensity for environment-paired cocaine in rats (De Carvalho and Takahashi, 2017).
Cannabidiol and substance use disorder: dream or reality
A 2012 study found that CBD may produce effects similar to those of certain antipsychotic drugs and that the compound may provide a safe and effective treatment for people with schizophrenia. However, CBD oil is illegal in some states, and carries some health risks. Recovery Ranch PA offers a comprehensive range of addiction treatment services.
