Plentiful research and anecdotal evidence has suggested that cannabis could be a useful harm reduction tool to help folks wean off of other substances that are more addictive and harmful. While many studies have focused on cannabis to curb opioid use with some looking more broadly at stimulants, new research suggests that it could prove useful for those with crack use disorder (CUD).
In fact, the popular non-psychoactive medicinal cannabinoid CBD, or cannabidiol, seems to be the key element.
The study, published recently in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, utilized a double-blind randomized clinical trial comparing CBD to three drugs commonly used to treat CUD: fluoxetine, valproic acid and clonazepam. Authors represent a number of Brazilian academic and official institutions, comprising various departments at the University of Brasília, the Brazilian Federal District’s secretary of health and forensic institute and the Federal University of São Paulo.
The research ultimately found that participants who took CBD had better health outcomes and fewer adverse effects compared to those who underwent traditional pharmaceutical options.
Monitoring Crack Use Over Time With CBD and Traditional Meds
Participants included adults in Brazil aged 18 to 65 who had used crack regularly over the past year and at least 20 times within the past month. The participants also had a desire to seek treatment for their CUD. Many of the…
