In the 1970s and 1980s, cocaine was taking over the United States. Cocaine-related deaths quadrupled between 1976 and 1981. In 1983, 10.4 million people tried cocaine for the first time. This was the peak of American use.
Then, crack cocaine took over throughout the 1980s to 1990s. Between 1982 and 1985, crack 1.6 million people boosted cocaine users.
Taking over in the early 1990s, the opioid crisis has been increasingly building since then. According to the National Safety Council, today’s odds of dying from an opioid overdose are far greater than from car crashes. Over 300,000 people in the United States died from opioid overdose in the past decade.
It’s tough to treat when a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol. First, the person has to decide that they’re an addict, and then treatment can begin.
Several pharmaceutical medications on the market help treat drug addiction, including opioids, but using them can lead to an addiction to the drug that’s supposed to be helping. Now, there’s an alternative to these medications, which can be used in conjunction with other addiction therapies — that’s CBD.
Don’t get CBD confused with hash, as they’re two different things even though they can come from the same hemp plant. You can get most premium hash in Canada and CBD just about anywhere, including dispensaries, gas stations, pharmacies, and convenience stores.
What is Addiction?
Addiction is a severe form of Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Substance Use Disorder is a complex condition where the need and desire for a substance supersede the risk and consequences of using that substance. Those with SUD tend to have a solid and sole focus on using the substance, such as alcohol, nicotine, illicit drugs, prescription drugs such as opioids (painkillers), or any other addictive substance or behavior (gambling).
Distorted thinking and behaviors are signs of addiction. When a person has an addiction, the brain’s structure and function change, which causes intense cravings for the substance, abnormal movements, changes in personality, and other behaviors. According to brain imaging studies, the changes that occur are in the parts of the brain that correlate with judgment, decision making, learning, memory, and behavioral control.
Changes in the brain are caused by repetitive use of a substance. Repetitive use causes intoxication, which is the intense pleasure, euphoria, calm, boosted perception and sensories, and other emotions and feelings. Symptoms of intoxication are different for every substance.
When addicted to a substance, a person can develop a tolerance. Tolerance is when a person needs more substance than before to get intoxicated. Addiction is a complicated disorder to treat. But, with the proper treatment, such as CBD, people can overcome it.
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A 2015 study indicated that CBD is a cannabinoid, which acts on many neurotransmission systems involved with addiction. Animal studies show the possible effects of CBD on opioid and psychostimulant addiction. Human studies indicated preliminary evidence of CBD’s beneficial properties to help drug dependence.
CBD may reduce cravings
In 2019, a study was conducted on heroin addicts. Researchers indicated that acute CBD consumption, in contrast to placebo, significantly decreased both craving and anxiety caused by the presentation of salient drug cues compared with neutral cues. It was also indicated that CBD exhibited significant extended effects seven days after the final short-term (three-day) CBD consumption.
When all three of these processes work together, recovery from addiction may occur. Speaking to a doctor about the possibility of using CBD to treat addiction is the best first step.
Conclusion
CBD as a treatment for addiction has tremendous possibilities based on research. Researchers are studying the effects of CBD on addiction, and so far, the results are promising. Studies have proven that CBD can help with certain aspects of addiction, including cravings and withdrawal. CBD may be the alternative needed to help patients overcome their addictions.
