A recent study was performed on smokers to see if cannabidiol reduces cigarette consumption. It showed that CBD reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by 40 percent compared to placebo-treated patients. Cannabinoids are found in the cannabis plant and are produced naturally by the human body.

• In all, 14 studies were found, 9 of which were conducted on animals and the remaining 5 on humans.
• In summary, available evidence suggests that CBD-induced modulation of drug reinforcing and motivational properties could be mediated, at least in part, by the functional regulation of the opioidergic system.
• Further, CBD shifted the cocaine dose-response curve downward and lowered the breaking point under a progressive-ratio schedule of reinforcement in rats (Galaj et al., 2020) (Table 1).

Suffering From Chronic Pain

With extensive experience in the field of addiction treatment, Francisco is dedicated to helping individuals access the resources they need for successful recovery. Health Writer & EditorKatrina has always had a passion for health sciences and literature. She works as a content writer, editor, and strategist in the health and wellness space, primarily focusing on cannabis education. She’s written well over 400,000 words on the subject—including demyst… If you believe you’re suffering from addiction, you must seek professional help as coming off certain substances like alcohol, antidepressants, or opioids can be extremely dangerous.

CBD Does Not Have Psychoactive Effects

Very recently, Chesworth and Karl exhaustively explored CBD actions (10 mg/kg, i.p.) on the acquisition, consolidation, reconsolidation, extinction, and drug-primed reinstatement of cocaine (15 mg/kg) in the CPP paradigm. CBD significantly reduced the preference for the cocaine-context and the consolidation of cocaine memory. CBD had no effects on cocaine-induced CPP, the rate of extinction of cocaine memory, or the drug-primed reinstatement (Chesworth and Karl, 2020). However, a recent report of our group demonstrated that CBD (30 and 60 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly reduced cocaine priming- and social defeat-induced reinstatement of CPP (Calpe-Lopez et al., 2020).

CBD vs. THC: What’s the Difference?

People addicted to drugs often have abnormally high levels of is cannabidiol addictive dopamine in the brain. This can lead to intense cravings for drugs and an inability to resist using them 3. The chances of getting addicted to certain compounds are determined by several variables, including the intensity, reliability, and speed at which dopamine concentrations build up in your brain after using a substance. Some people can experience negative drug interactions when combining CBD products with their prescription medications.

• For instance, the administration of CBD (0.5 mg/kg) to rhesus monkeys challenged with THC (0.2, 0.5 mg/kg) significantly attenuated THC-induced cognitive disturbances (Wright Jr. et al., 2013).
• These products often make different health claims, such as helping you sleep, detoxifying your body, or relieving pain, but there isn’t any research to support these claims.
• All the authors critically reviewed and approved the final version of the article.
• One of the best parts about using CBD is that you may get a variety of comprehensive benefits.

The flower of the plant processes and the sticky residue called trichomes are extracted using heat, CO2, or other mechanical methods. The end result is a carefully produced CBD oil or tincture that should be safe for internal use or inhaling. Taken together, it is possible to argue that ECS components play a pivotal role in the actions of CBD on withdrawal-related, reinforcement, motivation or relapse induced by alcohol, cocaine, or heroin. Thus, a greater effort is essential to further characterize the mechanisms involving the ECS that underlies potential therapeutic effects of CBD in drug addiction. Therefore, the versatile pharmacological profile and safety of CBD support its therapeutic potential in the management of SUD. This review focuses on collecting all the available evidence about the effects of CBD on the different aspects that accompany drug dependence (reinforcement, motivation, contextual conditioning, relapse, withdrawal syndrome or motor sensitization).

Consider reaching out to your doctor or a mental health professional who could provide more information and help you decide if CBD could be the right choice for your health. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, know that many different treatment options are available. Learning more about addiction and the various treatment options can be a good first step, so consider reaching out to your doctor or a trusted loved one and sharing more about what you’re going through. Many people use CBD because it may help them sleep better or reduce anxiety without providing the high that THC does.4 If you’re looking for an option you can take daily and not be intoxicated, this may be the right choice. It’s important to remember that everyone has a different experience with CBD. Some people find that they get a variety of benefits from this product, while others note that they don’t feel any differences.