CBD for People in Recovery?

It is one of the most common questions asked by people who are enrolled in an addiction recovery program or those who are considering it. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there which can be confusing to anyone seeking some honest answers.

In recent years the use of CBD for recovery has sparked a fiery debate. Some have argued that CBD is potentially intoxicating, and so it could re-trigger an addiction. Others think that CBD oil, when used correctly, can help manage some of the symptoms associated with cravings and withdrawal. Answering the question isn’t easy, but we’ll attempt to break it down in this article.

Facts about CBD

Those who are fearful that CBD oil or isolate could trigger a full-blown addiction in those who are recovering need to understand that CBD consists of 400 compounds. While these compounds are extracted from the cannabis plant, CBD in the absence of THC does not produce the euphoric high.

Here are a couple of other interesting facts about CBD:

• CBD, as alluded to earlier, isn’t psychoactive so recovering addicts can’t use it to get high unless it contains lots of THC which is highly unlikely.
• CBD does not convert into THC, and while THC is derived from hemp plants and cannabis, they are both very different.
• The absence of psychoactive effects is why CBD is legal in most states.
• CBD oil that’s derived from industrial hemp does not require a prescription to buy or use.
• CBD helps promote relaxation, reduce chronic pain, and other anti-inflammatory effects. It has also shown to be useful as an anti-depressant and has many anti-seizure properties, which is why it is seen as helping recover addicts.

Evidence for CBD’s Role in Potential Treatment

CBD has been shown to have neuropharmacological as well as behavioural effects, on a person’s neurocircuitry, which directly controls addiction. The implications of CBD to develop new treatments for drug addiction has, for many reasons, attracted researchers who have, for the longest time been aware of its (CBD) therapeutic benefits.

A study by the American Journal of Psychiatry found that CBD helped to reduce cravings in people who were addicted to heroin. The study involved both men and women, with a history of substance abuse. Also, part of the experiment was that participants were shown two videos, one of which was natural scenes, and others were related to drugs which could potentially trigger cravings.

Amongst the three groups, one received 400mg of CBD, and the other took 800mg while there was one that took a placebo. The double-blind experiment found that cravings were much higher in people who didn’t receive CBD. Also, people who received CBD demonstrated lower anxiety and lower cortisol levels. If anything, the test visibly marks the positive effect of using CBD.

Conclusion

While the jury isn’t out on CBD being a viable cure for addiction recovery, it is certainly worth trying. As a non-addictive substance it can help recovering addicts manage the many symptoms they struggle with each day which eliminates if not reduces the instance of relapse.