Study Reveals Potential Use of CBD to Reduce Cravings in Alcohol Use Disorder Patients

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A recent study published in Nature: Molecular Psychiatry, revealed exciting data findings that were witnessed in a double-blind randomized controlled ICONIC trial that researched the connection between cannabidiol (CBD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) (1). According to the study (1), alcohol use disorder a significant amount of alcohol use disorder patients’ relapse, and this still occurs when they are utilizing pharmacological treatments (1). Researchers wanted to explore other alternatives which led them to investigating how CBD can be used to help those suffering with this disorder.

To gather participants, researchers utilized social media, online, and newsletter advertisements to find non-treatment-seeking participants with mild to severe AUD and were between the ages of 18 to 60 years-old (1). From there, potential participants were vetted through telephone interviews and if they met the study criteria, were scheduled for further screening at an on-site visit. Researchers utilized the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 “to confirm the diagnosis of an AUD and to rule out any other substance use disorder (except tobacco use disorder) and severe psychiatric conditions),” (1).

The study was conducted at the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, Germany, with 28 participants that were consuming alcohol daily (1) where some of them received CBD or a placebo. For the patients not receiving the placebo, they were given a 200 mg oral capsule containing greater than 99.8% pure, synthetic CBD in a Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose capsule, and THC content was less than 0.1% (1). In regard to the placebo capsules, they were supplied by Endosane Pharmaceuticals located in Berlin, Germany. The study mentioned that (1), “The CBD formulation was favored over other CBD products, because it does not contain ethanol (e.g., Epidiolex) and because regulatory agencies already approved its use in human trials.” Participants received four capsules for a total of 800 mg of CBD or placebo (1,2).

Data was accumulated after 3 hours from administering the placebo or CBD and blood was drawn from the patients following the 3 hours after consumption. Researchers explained (1), “The results of this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial show that administration of 800 mg CBD reduces alcohol cue-induced bilateral NAc activity and alcohol craving in individuals with AUD. These results suggest that CBD can modulate central neurobiological mechanisms underlying alcohol craving and alcohol use and alleviate disease symptoms, such as craving.”

Researchers found (1), “Individuals receiving CBD showed lower bilateral cue-induced NAc activation (t_{left_NAc(23)} = 4.906, p < 0.001, d = 1.15; t_{right_NAc (23)} = 4.873, p < 0.001, d = 1.13) and reported significantly lower alcohol craving after a combined stress- and alcohol cue exposure session (F_group(1,26) = 4.516, p = 0.043, eta² = 0.15) and during the fMRI cue-reactivity task (F_group(1,24) = 6.665, p = 0.015, eta² = 0.23). CBD levels were significantly higher in the CBD group (t₍₂₅₎ = 3.808, p < 0.001, d = 1.47) and showed a significant negative association with alcohol craving during the cue exposure experiment (r = −0.394, p_FDR = 0.030) and during fMRI (r = −0.389, p_FDR = 0.030), and with left and right NAc activation (r_left__NAc = −0.459, p_FDR = 0.030; r_right__NAc = −0.405, p_FDR = 0.030).” This data highlighted the potential impact CBD can be used as a potential treatment for AUD.

In conclusion, researchers said that (1), “the observed potential of CBD to reduce cue-induced NAc activity and alcohol craving, together with its good safety profile, supports the potential of CBD to treat individuals with AUD. New pharmacological treatment options that target central neurobiological disease mechanisms and core symptoms of AUD, such as craving, could complement existing treatment options and reduce relapse risk and the enormous disease burden inflicted by AUD.”

Aside from AUD, CBD has also been found to have similar benefits for reducing cravings in those who use heroin, tobacco, methamphetamine, and other substances (2).

References

1. Zimmermann, S.; Teetzmann, A.; Baeßler, J.; Schreckenberger, L.; Zaiser, J.; Pfisterer, M.; Stenger, M.; Bach, P. Acute cannabidiol administration reduces alcohol craving and cue-induced nucleus accumbens activation in individuals with alcohol use disorder: The double-blind randomized controlled iconic trial https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-024-02869-y (accessed Jan 6, 2025).
2. Norml. CBD reduces cravings in subjects with alcohol use disorder https://norml.org/news/2025/01/02/clinical-trial-cbd-reduces-cravings-in-subjects-with-alcohol-use-disorder/ (accessed Jan 6, 2025).