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CBD for alcohol and substance abuse: Can cannabidiol be used to treat addiction

Addiction refers to a psychological disorder that manifests as an intense urge to engage in a specific behavior. It could be behavioral, impulse-based, or substance addiction. Left unchecked, addiction, depending on the causal factor, may lead to mental health conditions, physical health issues, and problems building and maintaining relationships.

 You can be addicted to something without knowing.

Can cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive and non-addictive extract of marijuana or hemp help? Medical data says that it may, meaning more studies are needed. Below is how CBD may help you overcome an addiction. 

CBD for addiction: Can CBD help addicts recover? 

  • CBD is not a cure for addiction. But it can help manage or prevent related symptoms. 
  • You may use CBD to manage withdrawal symptoms or during detoxification. 
  • Medical studies suggests that CBD may discourage drug seeking behavior. 
  • CBD can help addicts manage pain, stress, anxiety, depression, and mood swings. 
  • You may apply CBD topically, inhale it, or consume it orally. 
  • The FDA discourages the use of CBD if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How do you know if you are addicted to something, and how can CBD help?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a person’s risk of developing addiction cannot be attributed to a single factor. Several factors come into play that increase the risk of developing an addiction. Consequently, addiction could be a consequence of environmental factors such as early exposure to drugs or risky lifestyles. It may stem from biology and the presence of addiction or mental issues in the family. Or it could be a consequence of developmental factors, especially in the teen years.

According to the American Medical Association, alcoholism is a disease that one may prevent or manage. If you do manage to get the condition under control, you could be at risk of relapse for the entirety of your natural existence. 

What are the levels of addiction?

Depending on who you ask, there are between three to seven levels of addiction. 

The first level is experimentation, a process that entails the user experimenting with a substance. ‘Experimentation’ could be triggered by peer pressure, the need to escape reality, or plain old curiosity. Once one gets passed the experimentation phase, he may progress to regular use.

Regular use occurs when one incorporates the substance of choice into his everyday life. You may feel the urge to use it daily or “not feel right” if you do not use it. If that level progresses into risky use, the person may exhibit significant sometimes alarming changes in behavior.

Dependence occurs when one “stops functioning” without the addictive substance. You may notice a drop in performance at work or school.

The last level is addiction, a stage where the user exhibits symptoms including:

  • You start consuming excessive amounts of the substance to get high or to feel good. 
  • For opioids and prescribed medicines, one may continue using the medicines when they no longer need them.
  • if you do not use your drug of choice, you may feel “weird” or develop withdrawal symptoms including, pain, nausea, behavioral changes, psychological changes, gastrointestinal issues, problems with cognition, insomnia, and mood swings.
  • An inability to stop yourself from using the addictive substance.
  • Spending too much time and resources acquiring the drug. 
  • Loss of interest in activities that once interested you.
  • Issues doing everyday things without the drug. 
  • Relationship issues.

This is not a complete list; some may exhibit other symptoms.

Does preaching or lecturing addicts work?

The majority of humans have an innate need to rebel. Meaning, if you tell them something or continuously preach to them about the need to change their behavior or avoid something, they will likely rebel. That is part of the reason the D.A.R.E program failed.

Why is CBD different, and how can it help addicts overcome their addiction?

First, CBD is not a cure for addiction because there is no cure for addiction.  Addiction can only be managed, and one may relapse at any time.  Traditional methods of treating addiction rely on potentially addictive medicines. 

According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, CBD use may, quote:

CBD has several therapeutic properties on its own that could indirectly be useful in the treatment of addiction disorders, such as its protective effect on stress vulnerability and neurotoxicity. Overall, emerging data remain very limited and are far from being conclusive; well-designed, randomized.”

Should I quit rehab and addiction medicines and use CBD?

NO. CBD should be used to complement addiction treatment. While some addiction medicines may be bad for addicts, there are therapies that, when combined with regular CBD use, may help manage addiction and prevent relapse.

The problem with addiction medicines such as Lofexidine is they may cause side effects, including slowed heartbeat, lightheadedness, and drowsiness, and they interact with other medicines. CBD is different in that the side effects are mild, it does not cause a high, interactions with other medicines is not prevalent, and it can help prevent drug-seeking behavior.

Proven non-medicine treatments for addiction include:

Detoxification in a safe environment

Detoxification will not cure underlying behavioral causes, and it can cause side effects, including nausea, low energy, low blood sugar, and dizziness.

Detoxification may also cause mood changes, anxiety, and agitation.

Using CBD at this stage is beneficial -in that- it may help the addict manage said symptoms. CBD’s anxiolytic effect -makes it effective at relieving or preventing stress, depression, and anxiety. Additionally, CBD has been approved for use in the treatment of nausea, pain, and appetite issues for persons living with cancer or immune disorders.

According to a report by United Kingdom’s Food Standard Agency, quote:

“Respondents reported that the main reason they use CBD is for pain relief.  They also reported that CBD helped relieve anxiety, aided relaxation and sleep, supported mental health, and relieved depression.”

What are the benefits of using CBD during withdrawal?

  • CBD has a positive effect on mood, meaning it may help users manage mood.
  • CBD can reduce addictive and drug-seeking behavior. 
  • Cannabidiol binds with serotonin receptors to encourage positive emotions.
  • Consuming CBD may protect the liver of persons recovering from alcohol addiction. It may also decrease the desire to drink.

Cognitive behavioral therapy and CBD

Cognitive behavioral therapy refers to a psychosocial intervention that aims to reduce addiction symptoms, including stress, depression, and anxiety. The therapy’s focus is on actions, physical feelings, thoughts, emotions, and situations.

When recovering from addiction, keeping your emotions in check can be problematic, and some medicines may worsen your situation. CBD use is beneficial in that it can encourage positive thoughts and emotions, and it can help manage or prevent stress, depression, anxiety, and anger. 

Group therapy

Surrounding yourself with persons who understand your situation is beneficial -in that- they can relate to what you are going through. By helping you manage your mood and emotions, CBD may help you build a support system for your mental health.

Isolation will serve you no benefit. It may worsen addiction.

But for group therapy to work, you must first accept that there is a problem and there are steps that you must take to correct the problem. 

What if I relapse

It is human to fail. What matters is what you do after a failure. One option is to sink deeper into your addiction, and the other is to take control. Only you can decide what to do.

What are the benefits of CBD use during addiction?

The benefits of using CBD for addicts include:

  • Pain relief. One of the side effects of withdrawal is pain. Pain may make you crave the drug, or may lead to pain reliever addiction or dependence. CBD can relieve pain anywhere in the body, and it poses no risk of addiction or dependence. 
  • Better sleep. Insomnia is a symptom of withdrawal or addiction. CBD is a mild sedative and has been shown to improve sleep quality in humans and animals.
  • Manage or prevent stress, depression, and anxiety. 
  • Manage withdrawal symptoms.

How to use CBD to manage addiction

CBD comes in a variety of forms, you may use pills, CBD gummies, tinctures, and so on. 

You want to avoid products that contain THC, or other intoxicating substances. Because of that, go for CBD products that contain 0.3% THC. Why?

0.3% THC is not enough to cause a high, and such types of CBD products are legal across the country.