Addiction is one of the most prevalent diseases in America.  In 2014, it was estimated that over 21 million Americans, over 12 years of age, were battling substance abuse.  Researchers have begun to study cannabidiol as therapy for different types of Addiction, due to way that CBD regulates the endocannabinoid system.

In a medical paper published in 2015, researchers at the University of Montreal, Canada, gathered a collection of preclinical Studies focusing on the use of CBD to treat addiction.  There were 14 studies in all; 9 focused on treating addiction in rats and mice and the remaining 5 were human addiction subjects.  The addiction substances included opioids, psychostimulants, cannabis, tobacco and alcohol.  Combining data from the 14 separate preclinical trails, the researchers concluded that CBD acts on several neurotransmission systems that are involved in addiction. CBD has therapeutic properties that could indirectly be useful in the treatment of addiction disorders, such as its protective effect on stress vulnerability and neurotoxicity.  Overall, subjects receiving CBD therapy showed a decrease in total drug usage, as well as, lessened withdrawal symptoms.

Due to the worldwide problem of addiction and substance abuse, medical professionals are eager to find a medication that will successfully address different types of addiction behaviors.  There are currently ongoing studies to further investigate the potential of using CBD therapy as intervention for addiction.

To read more about these studies, please click here.