CBD Oil Benefits for Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a global problem, with over 30 million of the population is estimated to have an SUD. SUD-related expenditure (e.g., treatment and productivity cost) are presenting a worrisome issue. 

Till date, treatment has had minimal success, with a high likelihood of relapse. Currently, there is also no reliably established pharmacotherapy for SUDs, such as cannabis, and other stimulant use disorders; and current pharmacotherapies (e.g., opiate substitution with methadone; naltrexone for alcohol use disorder; nicotine replacement for cigarettes) have limited efficacy in relapse prevention. 

SUDs have been conceptualized to a present relapsing cycle of intoxication, binging, withdrawal and craving that results in excessive substance use instead. There are major brain circuits involved in reward motivation and memory/learned associations in maintaining addiction, these circuits may largely be modulated by activating the endocannabinoid system (ECS), this finding presents a promising pharmaceutical avenue or pharmacotherapy for treating SUDs successfully.

CBD oil, CBD, the Endocannabinoid system, and SUD

SUD is characterized as ongoing use of a substance that leads to clinical distress, making it a serious public health concern. Most substance users or addicts suffer terrible discomforts and cost their family and friends unimaginable devastation. Thankfully, CBD (oil) can help reverse or minimize these issues.

Recently, cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid present in cannabis plants has been proposed as a potentially effective treatment for the management or treatment of substance use disorders. In both animal and human studies, it is suggested that these cannabinoids have the potential to reduce craving and relapse in some substance users, by inhibiting reconsolidation of drug-reward memory, salience of drug cues, and inhibiting the reward-facilitating effect of drugs used. CBD can also be great support during withdrawal.

Scientifically, the endocannabinoid system has been found to play a major role in common neurobiological processes underlying substance use disorder, particularly, by working between the rewarding and motivational effects of substances and substance-related cues. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00063/full).

Subsequently, there is underlying evidence for CBD being a potential treatment for substance use disorder, across a range of substances including alcohol, psychostimulants, nicotine, opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine (crystal meth), and cannabis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30837904/.

While  research and studies support CBD's promise, further investigation and validation of CBD's efficacy, across preclinical and clinical trials is necessary to verify its full potential in this area.

CBD helps support the endocrine system, which is a central part of maintaining an overall sense of wellness.

Cannabis active compounds have been established to possess numerous potentials in helping us optimize our health conveniently and safely, but this intriguing revelation of CBD working with ECS in support as a treatment to substance dependency or addiction makes it even more useful.

In subsequent articles, I will present the promising findings of the role the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays in particular substance use disorder and the proposed pharmacological action proving cannabinoid drugs' therapeutic potential in addiction to treatments, with a focus on CBD. However, the general conception that CBD oil can help ease substance dependency by consuming the general recommended amount holds true.

CBD Efficacy on Substance Use Discomfort (stress, pain, and Inflammation)

CBD oil may reduce pain, inflammation, overall discomfort related to substance use. The research on CBD products and pain management has been both immense and positive. Pain and inflammation associated with substance use or withdrawal are real.

Stress brings about inflammation, which brings about pain. Inflammation is caused by a number of reasons including poor diet, inactive lifestyle, stress. However, stress and pains coming from substance use disorder are different, and can only be treated in relation to substance use or withdrawal.

Over time, inflammation caused by substance abuse can damage joints and bones, nerves, causing abnormalities. Inflammation is partly caused by cytokines, chemicals that are released by stress. So if you're stressed you'll release more cytokine chemicals, thereby increasing the amount of inflammation in your body.

 

Substance use and/or withdrawal are often accompanied by stress, which may lead to inflammation or pain. CBD can help in this area. For generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) including that caused by substance use, dependency, and withdrawal, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says that CBD has been shown to reduce stress in animals such as lab rats.

Study subjects demonstrated lower behavioral signs of anxiety. Their physiological symptoms of anxiety, which also leads to stress (as in a case of substance use), such as increased heart rate improved. www.healthline.com/health/cbd-for-anxiety#what-research-says

More research needs to be done, specifically on humans and GAD to verify this theory.

Whether you are seeking healing of health conditions or enhancing your entire well-being CBD oil is here to help!

CBD isn’t psychoactive — meaning it won’t give you the “high" feeling, instead, research suggests that it may help with number of issues:

• reduce stress, anxiety and depression
• improve sleep
• reduce seizures in people suffering from epilepsy
• soothe pain (chronic) and inflammation
• improve heart health
• correct symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

While there are systematic protocols to properly treat substance use disorders, regular consumption of CBD oil can propel the reduction or elimination of SUDs primarily due to its health-promoting impact on the endocannabinoid system - for those who need redemption. 

Dosage:

No matter what condition or you’re trying to address with CBD, giving yourself an adequate dosage is key. Improving overall well-being also depends on how much you consume.

CBD isn’t currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and there are no official recommended dosages.

This 2017 study review, An Update on Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol: A Review of Clinical Data and Relevant Animal Studies, shows a great deal of research has found that CBD (oil) is a relatively safe treatment. The studies analyzed didn’t show that there’s one universal dosage of CBD for everyone. Instead, it underscored the fact that different people (and, in different animal studies) respond to different dosages of CBD. However, most of the human studies use dosages anywhere between 20 and 1,500 milligrams (mg) per day safely.

The amount of CBD you should take depends on a range of factors, including:

• your body weight
• the condition you’re treating
• your individual body chemistry
• the concentration of CBD in each pill, capsule, drop, or gummy

How To Use:

You can take CBD oil by placing the recommended dose directly under your tongue (that part of the mouth is a capillary-rich area making the CBD reach your bloodstream quicker). Drop a dose of CBD under your tongue and hold it there for a minute before swallowing. You can also swallow or chew CBD edibles.

CBD oil can help restore and increase your mobility and quality of life! 

When taken in excess for a long period, or contradicts with existing health conditions or medications it may cause side effects minor.

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Quality, purity, and safety is 100% certified. Non-GMO. Certified organic cannabis CBD oil. All natural plant-based ingredients. No psychoactive effects (zero THC) and no side-effects. Appropriate for all ages: adults, seniors, teens, and young children.  

THE STRENGTH & EFFECTIVENESS: This oil is enhanced with a revolutionary CBD extraction method that instantly activates CBD receptors in your entire body and the endocannabinoid system to supercharge the therapeutic benefits. My selection of CBD oil information is backed by clinical science and research.

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Side effects noted in studies include:

• Diarrhea
• Changes in appetite and weight
• Fatigue

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5569602/

CBD is also known to interact with several medications due to its potency on entire body systems, discuss it with your doctor if you are on medication to ensure your safety and avoid potentially harmful interactions.

Keywords: study, cannabidiol, drug addiction, addictive behaviors, SUD treatment, drug abuse disorder, stress, anxiety, depression