How does CBD help with addiction recovery? 

According to medical journals, CBD may have the potential to help with addiction recovery.

Holiday pressures can take a toll on your wellness. But for some people, substances are unhealthily used as coping mechanisms. “Drug addiction is a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by the compulsive desire to use drugs and a loss of control over consumption,” states a review Substance Abuse: Research and Treatment. 

Further studies are needed, but medical journals report that CBD may offer aid to addiction recovery symptoms. Here’s how:

• Could help lift mood: It may affect how your respond to serotonin. CBD may lower depression by interacting with your endocannabinoid system. Animal studies have demonstrated that CBD may promote “antidepressant-like effects”. 
• May reduce sleep deprivation: Withdrawal can trigger sleep issues. Anxiety and pain can get in the way of a good night’s sleep, but CBD can help by promoting calmness and/or reducing the severity of aches. 
• Could help lessen cravings: CBD shows promise in lessening cravings. In one study from the American Journal of Psychiatry, it was shown to wither cravings and anxiety brought on by substance use. “In addition, CBD reduced the drug cue-induced physiological measures of heart rate and salivary cortisol levels,” affirmed the journal article.

If you’re struggling with addiction, we encourage you to seek help from your family doctor. Recovery is a unique journey, and the appropriate resources can help with mending your mind and body. Please consult with your doctor and/or pharmacist to determine if CBD is suitable for your health condition. 

Need help choosing a Baked Goods CBD product? Are you unsure how to use sublingual oils? No problem! Click here to reach us and we’ll get back to you shortly. 

NOTE: This article is not an alternative to formal medical advice and should not be relied on for diagnosing or treating your health condition or concerns. This post is published solely for the purpose of education. Please see your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your wellness or visit a nearby hospital if you require emergency help. 

With sources from:

https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2019/cbd-reduces-craving-and-anxiety-in-people-with-heroin-use-disorder

Hurd YL, Spriggs S, Alishayev J, Winkel G, Gurgov K, Kudrich C, Oprescu AM, Salsitz E. Cannabidiol for the Reduction of Cue-Induced Craving and Anxiety in Drug-Abstinent Individuals With Heroin Use Disorder: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Am J Psychiatry. 2019 Nov 1;176(11):911-922. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.18101191. Epub 2019 May 21. Erratum in: Am J Psychiatry. 2020 Jul 1;177(7):641. PMID: 31109198.

Prud’homme M, Cata R, Jutras-Aswad D. Cannabidiol as an Intervention for Addictive Behaviors: A Systematic Review of the Evidence. Subst Abuse. 2015 May 21;9:33-8. doi: 10.4137/SART.S25081. PMID: 26056464; PMCID: PMC4444130.

Sales, A. J., Crestani, C. C., Guimarães, F. S., & Joca, S. R. (2018). Antidepressant-like effect induced by Cannabidiol is dependent on brain serotonin levels. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, 86, 255-261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.06.002