Alcohol consumption disorder occurs when a person is unable to limit or control the amount they consume, despite experiencing negative consequences. Excessive alcohol use can cause changes in the brain, making it harder to stop behavior.
According to a 2019 survey, alcohol use disorder affects more than 14 million people over the age of 12 in the United States. However, due to the stigma associated with this disease, people may have trouble seeking help. Only 7.2 percent of people with alcohol disorder received treatment in 2019.
You may be curious as to whether cannabidiol (CBD) can help curb these symptoms and repair some of the damage that alcohol can do to your body.
Read on for CBD research for alcohol use disorder.
Cannabis contains many compounds, including some called cannabinoids. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD are the two most abundant cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.
But CBD does not cause the same effects as THC. Taking CBD alone will not make you feel “high”.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate CBD in the same way it does with other products such as prescription drugs. As a result, some companies may mislabel or misrepresent their products.
For example, some vendors incorrectly market hemp seed oil as CBD oil. But hemp seed oil doesn’t actually contain CBD. CBD is only found in other parts of the hemp plant, such as stems, leaves, and flowers. It is not found naturally in seeds.
All humans have an endocannabinoid system (ECS). Experts believe that ECS works to keep the body balanced. But they still don’t know exactly how it works or understand all its functions.
ECS includes endocannabinoid receptors, endocannabinoids, and enzymes. When endocannabinoids bind to the body’s receptors, they produce effects such as pain relief. When these endocannabinoids complete their task, the enzymes break them down.
In a 2007 animal study, researchers found that both short- and long-term alcohol consumption affects the level of endocannabinoids in the brains of rats. The changes occurred in regions of the brain related to emotion and other areas associated with alcohol use disorder.
Another 2005 study also suggests that ECS, specifically the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the brain, play a role in alcohol use disorder. The authors of the study concluded that more research on this link may help experts develop therapies for the disorder.
THC and CBD also interact with ECS. THC, for example, can bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors.
Some experts believe that CBD interacts with ECS by preventing the breakdown of endocannabinoids. But this is still just a theory. There are many things we don’t know about how CBD works within the ECS.
Researchers are currently investigating the possible therapeutic effects of CBD for people with alcohol-related disorders.
A 2015 review of human and animal studies suggests that CBD may help curb addiction to cocaine, opioids, stimulants, tobacco, and cannabis.
However, the review noted that in a study of CBD and alcohol, taking the two together did not make participants feel less intoxicated. Reviewers did not look at other aspects of alcohol use disorder.
An additional 2018 study concluded that CBD helped decrease impulsive behavior in rats addicted to alcohol or cocaine. The effects lasted up to 5 months after the last dose of CBD.
A 2019 review of human and animal studies suggests that CBD may help people with alcohol use disorders reduce their alcohol intake. The review also suggests that CBD may provide neuroprotective effects against alcohol-related brain damage.
A 2018 study in mice looked at low doses of CBD combined with naltrexone, an FDA-approved drug to treat alcohol use disorder. CBD and naltrexone combined were more effective at reducing alcohol consumption than any of them alone. But clinical trials are needed to better understand the role of CBD in alcohol use disorder.
It is important to note that much of the research on CBD for alcohol use disorder includes animals and not humans. Animal studies are not necessarily a good indicator of how CBD will work in humans.
Ultimately, clinical trials will provide researchers with a better understanding of how CBD can help with alcohol use disorder.
Drinking too much alcohol can put intense strain on the liver. Finally, this can lead to a condition called alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD). ARLD can cause liver failure and potentially shorten its shelf life.
A 2019 review suggests that in addition to reducing alcohol intake in people with alcohol use disorders, CBD can also prevent liver inflammation and damage due to excessive alcohol consumption.
However, all studies included in this review were animal studies. Human studies will help researchers understand how CBD helps prevent liver damage caused by excess alcohol.
In addition, a 2019 animal study found that very high doses of CBD, the equivalent of 200 milligrams per kilogram of body weight, could cause liver damage.
More research is needed to tell for sure how CBD affects the liver.
Taking small amounts of CBD is unlikely to cause serious side effects, which is why many people, including researchers, are eager to learn more about its potential health benefits.
In some cases, CBD can cause:
- fatigue
- weight changes
- diarrhea
Although the side effects are likely to be mild, talk to your doctor before taking CBD. This is because it may interact with some medications, such as those with a grapefruit warning.
If you have an alcohol disorder and are interested in trying CBD to see if it will help, you know that each substance has the potential to amplify the effects of the other.
Both alcohol and CBD, for example, promote relaxation. And taking both together can increase their sedative effects.
A 1979 randomized, double-blind, double-blind study found that combining alcohol with CBD resulted in significantly lower blood alcohol levels compared to drinking alcohol alone. But the combination of the two substances also caused significant motor impairment.
It is important to note that while these results are interesting, the study involved a very small group of volunteers: only six men and four women.
Aside from this obsolete study, there is little research on what happens if you mix CBD and alcohol.
Based on current research, the World Health Organization (WHO) says CBD does not appear to have any potential for abuse or dependence.
In fact, animal studies suggest that CBD may help treat certain types of addiction.
More research is needed, however, to understand the role of CBD in helping with substance use disorders.
When buying CBD, it is crucial to choose a quality product. But it can be difficult to classify all the options in the market. Here’s what to look for when buying:
CBD type
Full-spectrum products can produce more noticeable effects due to the environmental effect, which says THC and CBD work better together than alone.
Isolates are a good choice if you want to avoid THC.
Broad-spectrum CBD products do not contain THC, but they do contain terpenes and flavonoids, so they may offer some of the benefits of the environmental effect.
Third party testing
Because CBD products are not regulated in the same way as prescription drugs, it is essential to look for CBD from companies that approve their products in third-party labs.
Look for products that include a Certificate of Analysis (COA).
Do you want to check:
- if the power of the COA matches the product label
- for test results of contaminants such as molds and pesticides
- COA date: should be recent
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends talking to your doctor about alcohol use disorder if you answer “yes” to at least two of the following questions.
Over the past year, you have:
- Did you have periods when you drank more or less than you expected?
- Want to stop drinking or reduce your consumption, but can’t?
- Did you have a strong desire or desire to drink?
- Did you spend much of your time drinking or getting sick after drinking?
- Have you noticed that drinking interferes with your relationships, work, or school?
- Did you stop doing things you enjoyed doing so you could drink?
- Did you engage in risky behaviors while or after drinking?
- Did he keep drinking even though it made you feel bad, physically or mentally?
- Have you found the need to drink more to feel the same effects?
- Did you have withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, nausea, restlessness or sweating?
If you are not comfortable contacting your doctor, you may also consider talking to a therapist or joining a support group, either in person or online.
Alcohol use disorder is a serious illness, but there are treatment options available.
Some people may find it helpful to include CBD as part of their treatment plan. However, right now, the evidence behind the use of CBD for alcohol use disorder is, at best, weak and based primarily on animal studies.
If you think you have this medical condition, talk to a doctor to find out a treatment plan. This may involve going for counseling, taking medication, or attending support groups.
Is CBD legal?The 2018 Agriculture Act removed the hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. As a result, some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3 percent THC are federally legal. However, CBD products that contain more than 0.3 percent THC are still under the legal definition of marijuana, making them illegal at the federal level but legal under some state laws. Be sure to consult state laws, especially when traveling. Also, be aware that the FDA has not approved over-the-counter CBD products, and some products may be incorrectly labeled.
Steph Coelho is a freelance writer with a chronic migraine who has a particular interest in health and wellness. When you’re not clicking on the keyboard, you’re probably in for a good book.
