Cannabidiol Not THC Shows Promise for Severe Alcohol Addiction

A non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis may hold promise for people undergoing alcohol detox. According to new animal research by researchers at the University of California San Diego, cannabis could ease withdrawal symptoms, reduce relapse risk and protect the brain from damage and strokes caused by heavy, long-term drinking.

San Diego, the home of this research, already features an impressive array of inpatient and outpatient programs. The findings of this study adds to a growing body of evidence pointing toward cannabidiol (CBD) as a potential supplement to medically supervised alcohol detox treatment.

CBD and THC–The Difference?

It’s important to pause and note exactly what defines CBD. CBD doesn’t create the “high” that traditional marijuana and THC do and the need for marijuana rehab.

Rather, cannabidiol is a non-intoxicating compound derived from the cannabis plant and has already earned FDA approval for treating certain forms of epilepsy. It lacks the psychoactive, dependency, or impairment risks normally associated with THC. 

This distinction matters enormously when discussing CBD as a potential treatment for addiction. CBD works through entirely different neurological processes in the brain than the typical cannabis found in everyday vaping.

The Experiment on Rats

UC San Diego researchers studied 166 rats with established alcohol dependence. The rodents weren’t casual drinkers, but had enough exposure to alcohol to closely mirror the neurological changes seen in humans with severe alcohol use disorders. The rats treated with CBD drank much less alcohol during withdrawal periods and displayed fewer physical withdrawal symptoms. 

The rats also displayed reduced anxieties and sensitivity to physical pain. Significantly, these are two of the most common triggers for relapse during the alcohol detox process.

To confirm CBD was specifically targeting alcohol-motivated behavior, researchers also gave the rats access to sweet saccharin water. CBD didn’t impact on how they drank the sugar water, which indicates its therapeutic effects were specific to alcohol-motivated behavior.

How CBD Changed the Brain During Alcohol Withdrawal

This study went beyond behavioral observations. CBD restored normal brain activity in the region heavily involved in stress emotions, and addiction-related behavior. Chronic alcohol use had previously disrupted this region’s function and is a key reason alcohol withdrawal is neurologically dangerous and psychologically destabilizing.

CBD protected this from happening. While chronic alcohol exposure usually causes brain cells to die and become inflamed, the study showed that CBD prevented this damage specifically in areas that govern goal-directed behavior. When these regions are damaged, compulsive, uncontrollable drinking becomes more entrenched.

CBD successfully blocked relapse-like behavior triggered by severe stress, one of the leading causes of relapse for people in alcohol use disorder recovery.

Why Medical Detox Still Comes First

However promising, this research doesn’t suggest people should use CBD products to quit drinking by themselves. Alcohol detox is one of the most medically dangerous withdrawal processes, more so than opioid withdrawal. Alcohol withdrawal can impact the immune system and cause seizures, hallucinations, and a life-threatening condition called delirium tremens (DTs) within 24 to 72 hours of the last drink. Never attempt alcohol detox without medical supervision.

Medical detox programs provide around-the-clock monitoring and use evidence-based medications such as benzodiazepines to prevent seizures, thiamine to prevent Wernicke’s encephalopathy and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) options including naltrexone and acamprosate to reduce cravings after detox is complete. 

Even if validated in future clinical trials, CBD would function as a complement to this standard of care, not a replacement.

For Future Alcohol Detox Treatment

The results in the rats closely match those already seen in people who take FDA-approved oral CBD for conditions like epilepsy. The strong similarities make these findings more translatable than typical animal studies. But clinical trials in humans are still necessary before any treatment recommendations can be made.

But you don’t have to wait. Programs stand ready to assist if you or someone you love has an alcohol dependency. Please do not attempt to quit drinking abruptly without medical support. Call 800-996-6135(Sponsored) today to find medically supervised alcohol detox programs or browse our directory to find one in your area and fits your needs.