The United States experienced a tremendous increase in CBD products, ranging from gummy supplements to oil. Just because cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in cannabis does not necessarily mean that addiction is possible, regardless of the highly addictive qualities of marijuana.
Furthermore, the country saw a tremendous increase in CBD studies to find the numerous benefits it could give patients as alternative medicine. However, people are still hesitant about the negative implications of taking something “taboo” a couple of years ago.
This article will explain whether CBD products are addictive and some concerns that need addressing before using CBD as an alternative medication.
Getting a good understanding of addiction is the first step in understanding whether CBD products contain addictive properties. Addiction is a certain level of dependence on a particular substance or thing. Although the World Health Organization defines numerous kinds of addiction, the type at play here is drug addiction.
In other words, addiction is when the body craves a substance or action to boost dopamine or the feeling of “reward” in the brain. In the case of drugs and substance addiction, users may feel dependent on a particular drug is taken as a constant routine and continues to consume it to the point of dependence.
Furthermore, getting out of addiction becomes relatively difficult as the victim becomes more dependent on the drug. If situations worsen, the victim may experience numerous emotional and behavioral changes if the cravings go unmet. Some of these behaviors may include:
Addiction usually starts when the brain associates a particular substance with feeling pleasure or having a rewarding experience. What used to be a hobby might turn into an addiction when the victim finds himself at the point where it is too difficult –sometimes painful—to stop.
Most of the trouble comes from the brain, specifically the frontal lobe. If the brain is continuously flooded with dopamine, it eventually malfunctions to the point that it requires gratification to be immediate.
Aside from the internal factors of addiction, the victim might have had early exposure to these addictive substances from their friend and relatives. If the victim lacks the proper environment and culture for correction, these may play a role in developing the victim’s addiction.
The World Health Organization declared that cannabinoids (CBD) are not addictive substances, making it significantly harder for patients to become entirely dependent upon them. The addictive substance at play here is the tetrahydrocannabinol substance (THC). These compounds have a certain percentage in most CBD products that contain these addictive characteristics.
THC can reach the bloodstream and find the endocannabinoid receptors that associate the compound with pleasure and reward. Fortunately, the US Food and Health Administration regulated the concentration of THC in CBD products to ensure that they maintain the lowest addictive substance possible. More specifically, the US federal law requires its suppliers, manufacturers, and retailers to only sell hemp-derived CBD products containing less than 0.3% THC.
Nevertheless, CBD does not contain the same psychoactive effects as THC. The World Health Organization did not declare in any of its studies any health-related problems with using CBD for medicinal purposes. Thus, health care providers recommend caution when consuming CBDs with concentrations of THC since patients might experience heavy withdrawal symptoms.
Some healthcare providers are using CBD to lessen the impact of a patient’s drug dependence on another drug like marijuana. For example, researchers found that CBD is a good alternative to treat addictions to cocaine and methamphetamine.
Because of CBD’s therapeutic properties, clinical data found it capable of treating cocaine and opioid addictions. In other words, CBD can lessen the cravings for these other drugs while ensuring that the patient does not become dependent on CBD.
However, a debate about these results comes from the idea of using a drug to combat a victim’s dependence on another drug. In other words, victims might become dependent on CBD to stop the other drugs’ withdrawal effects. Thus, the victim might realize that they would need CBD to keep themselves away from the other habit.
There is still a possibility that victims might become too dependent on CBD, eventually developing another dependence on this compound. Furthermore, a victim’s susceptibility to this tendency might decrease the chances of the doctor recommending CBD as a means to fully recover from the withdrawal effects.
If the victim is struggling because of their dependence on CBD, they need to notify their healthcare provider as soon as possible. Seeking help in the early stages of addiction will ensure that the withdrawal effects will not be as severe as if left behind for a long time.
Furthermore, there are numerous organizations out there that connect people struggling with the same addiction to serve as a support group for each other:
Addiction is treatable if the person truly desires to recover from substance abuse. The victim may opt to receive psychotherapy through behavioral, talk, or group therapies to ensure that the right professional gives them the right advice to recover. Other medical services help treat serious complications from withdrawal and the aftereffects of addiction.
The World Health Organization claimed that CBD does not contain any addictive substances. Some medical professionals are considering using CBD to treat other kinds of addiction, despite the limited data in this field. Nevertheless, the traces of THC in these products might bring about dependent tendencies that might eventually lead to addiction.
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