The role of cannabis in treating opioid addiction is a controversial topic. While research is still scarce, there is some anecdotal evidence that cannabis can ease withdrawal symptoms and help prevent relapse.
Medical marijuana and high-CBD hemp strains can offer relief for both the physical and emotional side effects of opioid use. CBD has been shown to block opioids’ ability to activate brain reward circuits, which can decrease cravings and reduce pain.
Reduces Withdrawal Symptoms
The role of cannabis in treating opioid addiction has been gaining increasing attention, with growing evidence supporting its efficacy in easing withdrawal symptoms, reducing cravings, improving recovery outcomes, and preventing overdose deaths. Using medical marijuana in conjunction with current medication-assisted treatment is particularly promising, as it may be able to reduce withdrawal symptoms and increase the effectiveness of OUD therapy.
One study suggests that CBD, a natural compound found in marijuana, may be more effective at reducing the symptoms of withdrawal than methadone, another common treatment for opioid addiction. In the study, patients who smoked marijuana showed significant reductions in opioid doses and reported improved health outcomes.
Although it’s not completely known how CBD works, researchers think it might counteract the opioid-induced effect on the brain’s pleasure/reward circuit. It does this by neutralizing the drug cues that trigger the brain’s desire for the drug.
It also decreases stress levels in the body, which are often linked to heightened craving. The research team believes this is an important factor in preventing relapse after cessation of opioid use.
In addition, CBD is a safer alternative to opioids and other drugs used for pain relief, such as methadone. This is because it’s not a potent, psychoactive substance like heroin or morphine.
If you’re considering using cannabis as part of your opiate recovery, you should speak with a professional who can help you decide whether it is right for you. You’ll need to consider how much marijuana you plan to consume, as well as the amount of time you have to go without it.
You’ll also need to consider the safety of mixing opioids and marijuana. The combination of two downers can cause a range of problems, including slowed heart rate and severe sleep problems.
Despite the risks, many people find that marijuana is a useful part of their opiate addiction treatment. It can reduce the pain of withdrawal and make it easier to deal with other symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting. Marijuana also helps alleviate depression and anxiety, which can be difficult to manage during treatment.
Reduces Craving
Opioids, including heroin, are effective at treating pain but have a high potential for addiction and overdose. This has led to a massive public health crisis with over half a million people dying annually from opioid overdoses.
The problem with opioids is that they can trigger cravings in the brain. This happens because they bind to opioid receptors in your brain, spinal cord and gut. These receptors are responsible for feeling both pleasure and pain. When you take an opioid drug, these receptors activate the brain to produce a lot of dopamine, which can cause feelings of euphoria and pain relief.
Using cannabis can reduce your cravings for opioids and help you stop abusing them. It also helps you avoid withdrawal symptoms and relapse to opioids after you’ve stopped using them.
Cravings are a key problem when it comes to opioid addiction, so there’s no wonder that overcoming them is important. However, it can be difficult to know what to do about them when you’re abusing opioids.
Researchers have found that the cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) can reduce opioid cravings and anxiety in patients with addiction. This is especially helpful in light of the fact that CBD has no psychoactive properties.
According to a study from the University of Pennsylvania, CBD dampens cue-triggered cravings in people with opioid addiction. It also reduces anxiety, as well as stress hormone levels and heart rate in the body.
This research is groundbreaking, as it shows that the cannabis compound cannabidiol may be able to keep the door shut on the opioid addiction epidemic. It’s also the first time that a cannabis treatment has been shown to dampen drug cue-triggered cravings and anxiety in this manner.
The opioid epidemic has taken a toll on millions of lives, and the number of people living with an addiction is continuing to rise. It’s a complex problem that can be cured, but it will take the right tools and support to get there. For this reason, it’s important to find alternative treatments for those who need them.
Reduces Pain
Opioids are a popular drug of choice for pain relief, but they can be highly addictive. This is due to their ability to bind to specific receptors in the brain. These receptors produce the so-called “feel-good” chemical dopamine, which drives the reward system and increases further drug-seeking behavior.
Using cannabis to treat opioid addiction can be one of the most effective methods for dealing with opiate withdrawal symptoms and maintaining sobriety. The main compounds that work to alleviate these symptoms are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).
Both THC and CBD have analgesic effects, which means they help reduce the feeling of pain. However, they differ in how they interact with these receptors. THC binds to the CB1 receptors in the Endocannabinoid System, while CBD binds to the CB2 receptors.
The body’s ECS is a network of molecules and receptors that regulates pain, mood, hunger, and more. THC and CBD bind to these receptors, which initiate their therapeutic effects.
While there is little evidence to suggest that cannabis can provide long-term pain relief, some people have found it to be helpful in the short term for pain associated with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Marijuana can also be a good alternative to opioid painkillers for patients suffering from neuropathic pain.
Some terpenoids in the marijuana plant have been shown to have analgesic properties, including b-myrcene, which diminishes inflammation and relaxes muscles. Other terpenoids – such as ss-caryophyllene – can reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, which may help protect against ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems.
Another terpene, called cannabigerol, has been shown to decrease pain and anxiety by binding to the a-2 adrenoceptors. Cannabichromene (CBN), which is a breakdown product of THC, binds to the CB2 receptors and has been shown to be an effective treatment for burn injuries.
In addition to its pain-relieving abilities, cannabis can improve the quality of life for many people with chronic pain. It can help reduce the use of prescription opiates, which have been linked to a higher risk of death in patients with cancer and neuropathic pain.
Reduces Risk of Relapse
There is no denying that opioid addiction can be a serious and debilitating disease. Millions of Americans have an opioid use disorder, and more than 2 million people die each year from an opioid overdose (Martin 2017 Addict Behav).
Opioid receptors are found throughout the body, including in the brain, allowing them to influence mood, behavior and thought processes. When these receptors are stimulated, they release a neurotransmitter called dopamine that makes us feel good. This is what makes opioids addictive.
However, over time, repeated use can cause a chemical change in the brain that reduces opioid receptors and reduces the amount of dopamine available. This changes the way your brain responds to pain signals and reduces your ability to produce endogenous opioids, which leads to a condition called opioid dependence.
When you have a problem with opioid addiction, it’s important to get help right away. The longer you go without treatment, the higher your chances of relapse.
Medical marijuana may be an effective tool for reducing the risk of relapse by helping to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, reduce cravings and improve pain management. Cannabis also offers a range of other benefits, including its ability to reduce stress and anxiety.
In addition to its role as a pain reliever, medical marijuana may be used in conjunction with other opioid-reduction techniques, such as methadone maintenance treatment, to help people break addiction. This method has been shown to be effective in treating opioid dependence and preventing relapse, but it requires patients to adhere to a strict daily schedule that can be difficult for some individuals.
Additionally, medical marijuana can also be used to treat the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal, such as chills, nausea and bodily pain, can be extremely painful and stressful. This is why it is important to find a cannabis product that can ease these symptoms, making the process of breaking opioid dependency a more manageable experience for those in recovery.
For those in recovery, medical marijuana can help reduce the severity and frequency of withdrawal symptoms, and decrease the likelihood that a person will relapse back to using opioids. Those who are in recovery can also benefit from a medical marijuana treatment program that includes counseling and other relapse prevention strategies.
