How Can CBD Help People With Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)?

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) afflicts millions of people worldwide and is responsible for up to 3 million deaths annually. People suffering from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) develop a dependency on alcohol that leads to an inability to limit consumption of alcohol even when it impacts their health negatively.

Recent studies have found that Cannabidiol (CBD) has some efficacy in reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related brain and liver damage. High strength full spectrum CBD strains like the gelato strain can provide effective therapy for AUD by reducing alcohol cravings and stress-related alcohol consumption.

Preliminary studies have found that CBD has neuroprotective effects against alcohol-related brain damage. This leads to reduced dependency on alcohol where people who take CBD are likely to consume less alcohol.

Benefits of CBD for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can lead to a myriad of long-term health complications including liver cirrhosis, brain damage, cardiovascular disorders, mood disorders and other health issues. CBD can help patients with AUD by:

Reducing alcohol cravings

Preliminary studies on animals have shown that CBD reduces drug seeking behavior with continuous administration. This effect of CBD can be used to curb alcohol dependency by reducing the desire and motivation to consume alcohol.

The neuroprotective effects of CBD may also play a role in reducing alcohol-related brain damage which may also be a factor in progressive alcohol dependency.

Reducing stress-related alcohol consumption

CBD is widely used in the treatment of mood disorders including anxiety and depression. CBD has been found to boost dopamine production, a feel-good hormone that promotes feelings of wellness and happiness.

These anti-depressant effects of CBD can be useful, especially for AUD patients who are driven to alcohol by stress and other mood disorders. By reducing anxiety and impulsivity, CBD helps to reduce alcohol dependency.

CBD can help reduce alcohol-related liver damage

Initial studies conducted on animals indicate that CBD may be effective in reducing inflammation in the liver and slowing down the development of fatty liver. These effects help to reduce the damage inflicted on the liver as a result of excessive consumption of alcohol.

CBD can help reduce alcohol-related brain damage

CBD has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help in reducing alcohol-related brain damage. The neuroprotective effects of CBD can help people with alcohol by reducing neuronal loss which helps to improve cognitive functions.

Should you mix CBD and alcohol?

If you suffer from AUD and would like to use CBD for its therapeutic effects, it's important to understand that there may be possible interactions between alcohol and CBD. To avoid any negative side effects of mixing alcohol and CBD, here are some interactions that you should be aware of.

  • Taking CBD and alcohol together may amplify the sedative effects of both substances.
  • Taking CBD and alcohol together may increase alcohol-induced fatigue.

To avoid possible interactions, it is best to avoid mixing CBD and alcohol or wait at least 8 hours after taking CBD before you take alcohol.

Which Type of CBD is best for Alcohol Use Disorder

Preliminary studies show that full spectrum CBD may have more therapeutic effects on AUD. Full-spectrum CBD contains all the natural compounds found in the cannabis plant including THC. This makes full-spectrum CBD more effective for AUD since the entourage effect amplifies the therapeutic properties of both CBD and THC.

Broad-spectrum CBD contains some of the natural compounds contained in Cannabis but only has trace amounts of THC. This means if you take this type of CBD, you will still benefit from the entourage effect but without the effects of THC.

CBD isolates do not contain any other natural compounds found in the Cannabis plant apart from Cannabidiol. This means that CBD isolates are free of THC and may be a good option for people with AUD who do not want exposure to THC.  Since CBD isolates have no THC, they do not show up in drug tests.

Outlook

Although studies on the benefits of CBD use for alcohol use disorder are in the preliminary stages, initial research shows promising results. CBD can help people suffering from AUD by decreasing their alcohol dependency. It can also help to limit some of the negative effects of excessive alcohol consumption including alcohol-related brain and liver damage.




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