Quitting smoking is notoriously difficult, with most smokers requiring several attempts before successfully kicking the habit. The addictive nature of cigarettes makes it hard to withstand cravings and withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, irritability, and depression. Can Using CBD to Quit Smoking Cigarettes Actually Work? Emerging research suggests it may be able to.
Contents
How CBD Could Help You Quit Smoking
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a non-intoxicating compound found in cannabis. Early research indicates CBD may help smokers quit through several mechanisms:
1. Reducing Anxiety and Improving Mood
Nicotine withdrawal can severely impact mood, causing anxiety, sadness, irritability, and restlessness. By activating serotonin receptors, CBD can boost neurotransmitter activity in a similar way to antidepressants. This helps stabilize mood and reduce anxiety during the quitting process.
Several studies confirm CBD’s effectiveness at alleviating anxiety. By easing withdrawal-related anxiety, CBD may prevent you from relapsing during stressful situations.
2. Lessening Withdrawal and Cravings
Animal studies found CBD administration reduced nicotine-seeking behavior and visible withdrawal symptoms in nicotine-addicted rats. This indicates CBD could alleviate the physical and psychological withdrawal experienced when quitting smoking.
CBD may also dampen attentional bias towards cigarette cues. This instinct to seek out cigarettes when you catch a glimpse of a pack or see someone smoking, makes resisting cravings particularly tricky. By reducing the salience of these cues, CBD could make it easier to withstand temptations.
3. Substituting Smoking Rituals
Part of what makes cigarettes so addictive for many is the ritual of smoking. CBD vaping allows smokers to replicate the actions of inhaling and exhaling vapor. Mimicking smoking mannerisms and behaviors helps manage cravings and nicotine withdrawal.
What’s more, vaping CBD e-liquid provides a readily available substitute you can turn to whenever an intense urge to smoke strikes. Having a replacement habit is invaluable for making it through intense early cravings.
Does CBD Have Health Risks?
An appealing aspect of using CBD to quit smoking is it doesn’t come with the dependence and health risks associated with nicotine replacement therapy options.
The World Health Organization has stated CBD exhibits no potential for abuse or dependence. And research confirms CBD has a favorable safety profile even with prolonged use.
Potential side effects like changes in appetite, fatigue, and diarrhea seem relatively mild compared to long-term smoking risks.
However, CBD can impact medication metabolism through liver enzymes. So be sure to consult your doctor if taking other medications.
Early Research on CBD to Quit Smoking
While still in early stages, initial studies examining CBD as a treatment for nicotine addiction have produced promising results:
- A 2013 study found smokers using CBD reduced cigarette intake by 40% compared to the placebo group.
- In 2018, smokers taking 800mg oral CBD lessened attentional bias towards cigarette cues compared to placebo when abstinent overnight.
- A 2021 animal study found CBD blocked physical withdrawal signs in nicotine-addicted rats.
However, we need larger scale human trials over longer periods to confirm CBD’s viability as an effective smoking cessation aid.
Early indications suggest CBD could alleviate withdrawal symptoms like mood changes, anxiety, irritability and restlessness that often undermine quit attempts.
Other Stop Smoking Treatments
If you’re ready to stub out smoking for good, CBD may bolster your chances of success but should be combined with other quit-smoking aids.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Nicotine patches, lozenges, and gum supply steady low doses of nicotine to manage withdrawal side effects. While less harmful than smoking, nicotine addiction remains problematic long-term.
Prescription Medication
Chantix and Zyban alter brain chemistry to reduce cravings and withdrawal while blocking nicotine receptors. Side effects like nausea, dizziness, and sleep disturbances are common.
Counseling
Research shows counseling combined with other quit methods dramatically improves success rates compared to going cold turkey. Having support and guidance tailors your quit plan while identifying personal smoking triggers.
Lifestyle Changes
Adjusting routines and habits around smoking plays a pivotal role when trying to quit. Tell friends and family about your quit goal so they can support you during tempting situations. Avoid drinking alcohol initially as it lowers inhibitions raising relapse risks.
Best CBD Products to Quit Smoking
CBD vape is the most direct substitute mimicking cigarette smoking motions. Having a vape handy whenever cravings strike provides immediate relief. Consider starting with lower concentration 100-400mg CBD vape juice if new to CBD.
CBD oil oral drops easily fit in a pocket or bag allowing for dosing convenience and discreetness. Measure out a dose when you feel a craving coming on or use daily to maintain stable CBD levels. High strength 1500-3000mg bottles suit heavier smokers best.
Flavored CBD gummies make an appealing oral substitute helping distract and fulfill cigarette cravings. The sweet taste and chewing action mimics smoking mannerisms. Keep gummies handy for whenever cravings strike.
Switching out smoking for vaping CBD can also pave the way for cannabis smokers to quit tobacco. One study found 86% of medical marijuana users still combust cannabis, with many vaping solely to quit concurrent tobacco smoking.
CBD to Quit Smoking – Final Thoughts
Kicking nicotine addiction poses a formidable challenge with less than 5% succeeding cold turkey. Early studies indicate CBD may help smokers quit. Alleviating withdrawal, lessening attentional bias towards cues and substituting rituals all likely aid quit success.
However, definitively proving CBD’s efficacy requires large scale, long-term randomized clinical trials. For now combining CBD with approved quit methods like NRT, prescription meds and counseling seems the best approach.
Vaping CBD oil allows you to simulate smoking actions while potentially dampening withdrawal severity. Just be sure to consult your doctor first if taking any other medications or have a serious health condition.
FAQS
Is smoking CBD safer than cigarettes?
Yes, smoking CBD is generally safer than smoking traditional cigarettes. Cigarettes contain thousands of harmful chemicals created by the combustion process, many of which are carcinogenic. CBD flowers do not contain nicotine or these carcinogens. However, any kind of smoking still carries risks like lung inflammation. Vaping CBD oil eliminates exposure to combustibles while providing faster relief than other formats.
Does CBD help with cravings?
Initial research indicates CBD may help minimize cravings for cigarettes and other addictive substances. CBD may ease withdrawal symptoms like low mood that can trigger relapse. Animal studies also found CBD reduced cravings and withdrawal signs in nicotine-addicted rats. By interacting with brain receptors, CBD may diminish the reward response that drives compulsions. More studies are underway, but current evidence suggests CBD has promise for curbing cravings.
Does pure CBD show up on drug tests dot?
No, pure CBD without THC should not cause a positive drug test result. Standard workplace drug tests screen for THC and its metabolites, not CBD. However, CBD products sometimes contain small traces of THC that could build up over time with heavy usage. To avoid any risk of THC accumulation causing a failed test, only use broad spectrum or isolate CBD with 0% THC.
Is smoking CBD addictive?
No, CBD does not appear addictive or habit forming according to research. In fact, emerging studies show CBD may help treat addiction to other substances like opioids and tobacco. The World Health Organization states CBD exhibits no potential for abuse or dependence. Unlike nicotine and THC, CBD does not seem to stimulate dopamine pathways that trigger abusive patterns of consumption. Most evidence suggests CBD has a favorable safety profile without risk of addiction.
