CBD hemp oil, Hand holding bottle of Cannabis oil in pipette
A new study found that CBD could be a promising option for treating crack use disorder, showing fewer adverse effects compared to standard pharmaceutical approaches.
Published by the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction in early April and first reported by Marijuana Moment, the study conducted by a group of researchers in Brazil examined whether CBD is a feasible, safe, well-tolerated, and effective option compared to standard pharmacological treatment for reducing crack use in individuals with crack use disorder.
Results indicate that CBD could serve as a "powerful and promising therapeutic tool for people with" crack use disorder, as it appears to alleviate key symptoms reported by participants, including appetite loss, struggles with reducing crack consumption, and overall feelings of poor health.
Moreover, CBD stands out for its minimal adverse effects, in contrast to the common complaints linked with typical medications, which might be exacerbated due to their excessive dosages and combinations.
The study used a double-blind, randomized controlled trial design, where researchers compared CBD with three drugs typically prescribed for crack use disorder treatment: fluoxetine, valproic acid, and clonazepam.
Out of the initial 90 participants, 73 were assigned to either the control or CBD group for a 10-week treatment. Thirty-four participants followed at least half of the study, and 25 completed it entirely.
They were divided into two groups: one received CBD (600 mg), and the other received a combination of three drugs (fluoxetine, valproic acid, and clonazepam) as part of the control group.
While many participants were polydrug users, meaning they used multiple substances, all participants reported regular crack use as their primary drug for the past year. Furthermore, they had used crack at least 20 times within the last month and expressed a desire or intention to treat their use disorders.
The results showed while there were no significant variations in the decrease of crack use between the control and CBD groups and no significant differences in self-reported cravings for the crack between the two groups, CBD, unlike standard treatments, showed milder side effects, with significant differences in several symptoms including diarrhea, constipation, nausea, dizziness, memory impairment, and others.
Overall, the study suggests that CBD may be a safer treatment option for crack addiction, showing similar efficacy to the control group in reducing crack use and improving various health symptoms.
This study confirms previous research supporting the safety and efficacy of CBD in various medical conditions. It highlights that adverse events associated with CBD are generally mild. This non-intoxicating compound of cannabis has shown efficacy in reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms in individuals with substance use disorders, including heroin and nicotine, according to the study. Additionally, it has demonstrated benefits in appetite-related functions and overall well-being across various populations.
Therefore, the findings of this study may pave the way for its use in treatments related to crack use disorder.
The limitations of this study primarily revolve around participant recruitment. Initially, researchers planned to divide participants by sex but encountered difficulty in recruiting enough females. Additionally, some participants faced social challenges, as they could not afford transportation despite researchers providing transportation funds. Moreover, many lacked motivation due to these difficult circumstances, and researchers were unable to control how participants took their medication, although none reported any irregularities.
