A new study has found that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, may help reduce cravings and anxiety in recovering heroin addicts. Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York tested the effects of Epidiolex, a CBD medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for epilepsy.
The study involved 42 former heroin addicts who were split into three groups and given either 800mg of CBD, 400mg, or a placebo. Participants, who had been addicted to heroin for an average of 13 years, were shown videos of people taking drugs or syringes and packets resembling heroin. Those who received CBD reported cravings two to three times lower than the placebo group, and also showed reduced heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels.
Lead researcher Dr Yasmin Hurd said: 'Our findings indicate that CBD holds significant promise for treating individuals with heroin use disorder.' She added that CBD 'doesn't get you high, but it can reduce craving and anxiety... This can really help save lives.'
CBD is legal in the UK and widely available as a health supplement, though its benefits are debated. Unlike methadone, which is addictive and tightly controlled, CBD is non-addictive and affordable. The study follows previous research showing CBD reduced heroin dependency in animals.
The findings come amid a US opioid epidemic that has killed nearly 400,000 people since 2000. Experts hope CBD could offer a new tool to combat addiction and prevent relapses, which often lead to overdose.
