Millions of Americans suffer from an alcohol-use disorder (AUD), which is a condition that causes people to feel the need to consume alcohol even when it negatively impacts their life. Researchers are investigating whether cannabidiol (CBD) might help those with AUD by decreasing the amount of alcohol they consume and reducing the negative effects of alcohol consumption such as liver damage.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, an estimated 15 million Americans ages 12 and older had AUD as of 2019. Researchers also found that AUD affects 414,000 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17.[1]
People who abuse alcohol can suffer related conditions, including heart or liver disease, cancer, and stroke. AUD can also impact people’s emotional, financial, and interpersonal functioning. Even with these potentially negative consequences, many people who have AUD do not seek treatment, and only an estimated 7.2% of people who suffer from alcohol use disorders seek treatment each year.
The use of CBD as a potential therapeutic intervention for people with AUD is still being researched. However, early results indicate that CBD might show promise as a potential treatment for AUD and its related conditions. Here’s what to know about using CBD for AUD.
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Understanding Cannabidiol
Cannabidiol is commonly known as CBD, and it is a chemical compound derived from cannabis plants, including hemp and marijuana. This substance is not psychoactive and will not create a high like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another compound found in cannabis plants. If you use CBD, you are unlikely to feel high. CBD works by binding to different receptor sites found in the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS regulates a variety of different functions within the body. Your body also produces cannabinoids, which are called endocannabinoids. These substances also bind to the receptor sites in the ECS. CBD is believed to bind to the same receptors, and it might also have similar effects and the endocannabinoids your body produces.
Research on Using CBD to Decrease the Consumption of Alcohol
There is only limited research on the use of CBD as a potential therapeutic to reduce the consumption of alcohol in humans.
In 2019, researchers completed a study on mice that were alcohol-dependent and found that CBD might reduce the consumption of alcohol. According to the researchers, mice that received CBD were not as motivated to consume ethanol, the primary component of alcohol.[2]
A separate study involving rats was conducted by researchers in 2022. In this study, researchers found that alcohol-dependent rats that were administered CBD reduced how frequently they decreased levers to deliver alcohol to themselves.[3]
Preclinical research has indicated that CBD and THC might both help to decrease the consumption of alcohol in humans and might also protect people from other negative effects, including brain damage and liver disease, caused by the excessive use of alcohol.[4]
While CBD might have promise for reducing the consumption of alcohol in people suffering from AUD, the research is still emerging and more studies are needed to determine whether it is effective.
Research on CBD and the Urge to Drink
Researchers are also studying whether CBD might reduce the urge to drink, including consumption related to stress and impulsive use of alcohol. Most of the studies have been conducted on animals, however. A systematic review of animal studies found that CBD might decrease impulsive use of alcohol and consumption related to stress in animals.[5]
Studies need to be conducted with people to determine whether the results from animal studies apply to humans.
Research on CBD to Mitigate Liver Damage Caused by Alcohol Consumption
Researchers in the previously referenced 2019 animal study who found that CBD reduced alcohol consumption in mice also found that it might help prevent alcohol-related damage to the liver. The researchers found that CBD reduced inflammation and slowed the development of fatty liver disease in alcohol-dependent mice.
A second study that was conducted in 2017 found that administering CBD to alcohol-dependent mice helped to improve damage to the liver caused by alcohol consumption, limited fat buildup in the liver, and reduced inflammation.[6]
Risks of Mixing CBD and Alcohol
People should avoid mixing alcohol and CDB because the combination can increase the effects of both. A 2020 study investigated the effect of mixing CBD with high-fat meals vs. low-fat meals, whole milk vs. skim milk, or alcohol. The researchers found that combining CBD with high-fat meals increased the effects of CBD the most, but they also found increased effects when CBD was combined with alcohol.[7]
Taking CBD while drinking alcohol could cause you to feel overly drowsy, reduce your coordination abilities, and reduce your attention.
Takeaways
While research indicates that CBD might be helpful for people suffering from alcohol-use disorders, more research needs to be completed before CBD’s effectiveness for alcohol-related issues and addiction can be established. If you want to try CBD as a potential therapeutic to help you with an AUD, you should first talk to your doctor.
If your doctor agrees, you need to make sure you purchase CBD from a reliable source like Sugar Bottom Hemp, which uses a third-party lab to analyze products and ensure they meet high-quality standards. Contact us to learn more about our complete product lineup.
References
[1] National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2019). Alcohol use in the United States. Alcohol Facts and Statistics. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
[2] De Ternay, J., Naassila, M., Nourredine, M., Louvet, A., Bailly, F., Sescousse, G., … & Rolland, B. (2019). Therapeutic prospects of cannabidiol for alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related damages on the liver and the brain. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 10, 627. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.00627
[3] Maccioni, P., Bratzu, J., Carai, M. A., Colombo, G., & Gessa, G. L. (2022). Reducing effect of cannabidiol on alcohol self-administration in Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, 7(2), 161-169. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2020.0132
[4] Nona, C. N., Hendershot, C. S., & Le Foll, B. (2019). Effects of cannabidiol on alcohol-related outcomes: A review of preclinical and human research. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 27(4), 359. DOI: 10.1037/pha0000272
[5] Turna, J., Syan, S. K., Frey, B. N., Rush, B., Costello, M. J., Weiss, M., & MacKillop, J. (2019). Cannabidiol as a novel candidate alcohol use disorder pharmacotherapy: a systematic review. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 43(4), 550-563. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.13964
[6] Wang, Y., Mukhopadhyay, P., Cao, Z., Wang, H., Feng, D., Haskó, G., … & Pacher, P. (2017). Cannabidiol attenuates alcohol-induced liver steatosis, metabolic dysregulation, inflammation and neutrophil-mediated injury. Scientific reports, 7(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-10924-8
[7] Crockett, J., Critchley, D., Tayo, B., Berwaerts, J., & Morrison, G. (2020). A phase 1, randomized, pharmacokinetic trial of the effect of different meal compositions, whole milk, and alcohol on cannabidiol exposure and safety in healthy subjects. Epilepsia, 61(2), 267-277. https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.16419
