New Trial Explores the Interaction Between CBD and Alcohol
Researchers at the Department of Addictive Behavior and Addiction Medication at the University of Heidelberg in Germany conducted a study on CBD’s effect on people who experience alcohol use disorder (AUD). The placebo-controlled study had 28 participants, and the data showed the group taking CBD did experience lower alcohol cravings.
There are approximately 600,000 alcohol-dependent people in the United Kingdom, and only an estimated 18% are receiving treatment. There have been previous studies reporting data that indicate CBD may reduce cravings for opioids and tobacco. This study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, focused on the ability of CBD to reduce alcohol cravings.
The 28 study participants were divided into two groups. The group taking CBD received one 800 mg dose of CBD. They were then exposed to alcohol cues and stress. The participants looked at images associated with alcohol and were placed in an environment resembling a bar. The effects of the CBD were then measured using a series of various tests. The tests included questionnaires to measure alcohol cravings and MRIs to measure brain activity.
The participants who took CBD reported significantly lower alcohol cravings after taking cannabidiol. There was also normalization of NAc activation in the brain, the area associated with alcohol use disorder. NAc neurons are activated by various drugs that create a reward experience similar to that felt during activities like listening to music and exercising. These neurons inform as to what is pleasurable.
The study authors wrote the data “provides evidence for the significant effects of CBD on neurobiological disease mechanisms and symptoms in AUD.”
In the study’s conclusion, the researchers underscore the need for additional future research on new CBD pharmacological treatments that target the main neurobiological disease mechanisms and symptoms of alcohol use disorder, like cravings, to complement the current treatment options. The accumulating data demonstrates that CBD can potentially have various benefits, but further research is needed. Each research project adds to understanding CBD’s efficacy, optimal dosages, and potential side effects.
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