Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a popular health supplement that people have, in increasing numbers, been taking to help relieve symptoms of several difficult-to-treat ailments. Recent, yet still limited, research suggests that CBD could help reduce the withdrawal symptoms associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
According to a 2019 National Health Institute report, 5.3 percent of people ages 12 and older suffer from AUD. Men make up roughly 9 million of this group, while 5.5 million struggling with the disease are women. 1.7 percent afflicted with AUD were children and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 [1].
Some studies suggest that CBD may help decrease alcohol cravings. Its potential inflammatory properties could play a role in reversing alcohol-related liver damage from patients struggling with long-term AUD. Apart from liver disorders, excessive and prolonged alcohol abuse has been shown to contribute to heart disease, strokes, and even cancer.
Even though AUD is a widespread and far-reaching disorder, more than 90 percent of those afflicted with the disease fail to receive adequate treatment. And while clinical inquiries into whether or not CBD can serve as an effective treatment for alcohol addiction are still in their early phases, they continue to evolve. The outlook, thus far, is promising.
In the sections below, we’ll provide an overview of CBD before exploring how the compound could help alleviate symptoms of post-acute alcohol withdrawal, alcohol cravings, and other AUD-related conditions.
What is Cannabidiol (CBD)?
For those still unfamiliar with CBD, it’s worth mentioning that the 2018 Farm Bill eliminated the compound’s restricted status under the Controlled Substances Act. CBD had been previously defined as the same substance as marijuana, its THC-rich counterpart. CBD has since been recategorized as a hemp-derived product, and its THC content cannot exceed 0.3 percent. Products containing more than 0.3 percent THC are legally defined as marijuana.
CBD is one of several compounds present in the cannabis sativa plant. It’s distinct from tetrahydrocannabinol-9, however, since it doesn’t produce the euphoric effects reported by medical patients and recreational cannabis users. Most people who try CBD don’t experience the side effects that many associate with THC. However, many people have anecdotally claimed the naturally occurring compound may induce relaxation, relieve inflammation, and help control anxiety.
Recent findings conveyed in the medical publication “Antioxidants” suggests that CBD has antioxidant qualities, may help regulate the immune system, prevent seizures, and reduce body inflammation [2].
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Can CBD Help Manage AUD and Reduce Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
Studies concerning whether CBD can help control AUD and manage the withdrawal symptoms of patients who suffer from it are scarce. The latest research developments into this subject, however, are promising. A 2018 study involving male Wistar rats revealed that CBD’s potential anxiety-prevention properties might decrease compulsions to drink alcohol while having a positive impact on subjects experiencing acute symptoms of withdrawal [3].
Another small-scale 2021 trial evaluated 120 cannabis and alcohol-using adults with a median age of roughly 33 years old to explore the effects of cannabis products on alcohol consumption. The legal-market cannabis strains involved contained varying potency levels of CBD and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) [4].
The study revealed that the CBD consumed fewer alcoholic drinks per day, drank less alcohol throughout the study, and displayed considerably fewer alcohol and cannabis co-use days than other groups within the study. The trial evidenced no differences, however, between the research subjects in the THC and the CBD + THC groups. This study concluded that cannabinoid content may impact alcohol consumption rates and that CBD could be associated with a decrease in alcohol cravings [4].
Could CBD Be Used as a Treatment for Alcoholism?
At this point, there is not enough research into CBD as a treatment for alcohol use disorder to make any firm determinations concerning CBD as a treatment for alcoholism. The preliminary studies listed above, in addition to a few more early trials, indicate that CBD may reduce alcohol cravings and symptoms of withdrawal. The compound could, likewise, help those who struggle with AUD reverse the negative side effects of alcohol use, such as brain damage and liver disease [5].
Nonetheless, these recent studies still leave several open questions about whether CBD should be used as a treatment for AUD and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Researchers are unclear about the best method for administering CBD, which dosages of the compound are most effective, and how long the treatment lasts. Given that there are several formulations of CBD, it has yet to be determined which one is most effective.
What’s The Consensus on CBD’s Ability to Reduce Alcohol Cravings?
As mentioned, there is no wide consensus on CBD’s capacity to treat patients struggling with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Nonetheless, early research findings show that CBD’s stress-reducing qualities could help with alcohol cravings and AUD-related withdrawal convulsions. In the animal trial discussed above, the rats were shown to be less motivated to seek out alcohol after consuming CBD.
Medical researchers involved in the same studies have been looking into the potential benefits of combining CBD and naltrexone to treat alcoholic substance abuse. The two compounds together might have an impact on reducing the urge to drink. Clinicians and medical scientists need more studies involving human subjects to draw any affirmative conclusions about this approach for treating AUD, however.
What is the Outlook for CBD Oil as Therapeutic for Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms?
While research findings on CBD oil and AUD-related ailments remain inconclusive, many researchers concur that the outlook is positive. New studies on this topic are emerging all the time. Future research is expected to reveal that CBD may have positive effects in helping chronically addicted patients quit using alcohol.
The good news is that, despite the inconclusive findings, most medical practitioners concur that CBD consumption is relatively safe in moderation. In addition, unlike THC, because CBD isn’t an intoxicant, the compound doesn’t seem to possess addictive qualities.
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For more on our premium oils, tinctures, creams, and edibles, continue exploring the full suite of Sugar Bottom Hemp products on our website, or get in touch with us today to learn more about our latest offerings and specials.
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Resources
- Alcohol Facts and Statistics | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). (n.d.). https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-statistics
- Atalay, S., Jarocka-Karpowicz, I., & Skrzydlewska, E. (2019). Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Cannabidiol. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9010021
- De Ternay, J., Naassila, M., Nourredine, M., Louvet, A., Bailly, F., Sescousse, G., Maurage, P., Cottencin, O., Carrieri, P. M., & 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
- Karoly, H. C., Mueller, R. L., Andrade, C. C., & Hutchison, K. E. (2021). THC and CBD effects on alcohol use among alcohol and cannabis co-users. Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors, 35(6), 749–759. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000706
- 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), 359–369. https://doi.org/10.1037/pha0000272
