Does CBD cause addiction?

In recent years, interest in buying CBD has risen sharply, attracting the attention of millions of people around the world. This cannabis compound has been the subject of intense scrutiny and study because of its wide range of potential benefits for health and personal wellbeing. However, as its use has spread, another question has also arisen that deserves a thorough analysis: Is CBD addictive?

What is CBD and what is it used for?

CBD or cannabidiol is one of the hundreds of chemical compounds produced by the cannabis plant. Unlike THC, the cannabinoid responsible for the effects of cannabis, CBD does not produce psychoactive effects.

Today, more and more people are interested in products containing CBD because of their potential health benefits. There has been a lot of talk about how CBD could help with conditions such as anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain. Although CBD products are sold over the counter in many countries, it is worth pointing out that treating these conditions requires professional advice.

Where is CBD extracted from? Is it legal?

CBD is the main component of hemp extract, a THC-free variety of cannabis, different from the weed plant. As it contains no THC, hemp growing is completely legal, as are the CBD products derived from it, which are THC-free.

Is CBD addictive?

One of the most common concerns people have before considering using CBD is its addictive potential.

In short, the answer to this question is that CBD is not addictive. Scientists base this statement on the fact that cannabidiol does not activate the same neural pathways as other addictive substances and does not produce tolerance or withdrawal syndrome. In animal studies, it does not induce the behavioural changes seen in experiments with other drugs either. And ultimately, there are no published cases of people addicted to CBD.

What's more, this cannabis compound has anti-addictive properties, and its use is being researched to treat addictions to substances such as tobacco and alcohol.

Why doesn't CBD get you high?

Why doesn't CBD cause addiction?

To answer this question, we spoke to Dr Caudevilla, a GP and expert in drug dependence with extensive experience in healthcare, research and teaching projects related to drug use.

Stay with us to the end to better understand what addictions are, why CBD is not addictive and how this compound affects our body and mind:

What is an addiction?

Addiction is a complex, multidimensional term that has been studied in various disciplines such as psychology, medicine, psychiatry, anthropology and sociology. It refers to a pattern of substance use in which significant distress is experienced and the individual is unable to control their use, despite the negative consequences it may have in different areas of their life, such as health, family relationships, work, social life, finances or even legal problems.

CBD to stop smoking: research into its effectiveness

How is an addiction diagnosed?

Addictions are a complex phenomenon, and their definition and diagnosis can vary depending on the perspective and context in which they are analysed.

The two most common systems used to define and diagnose mental disorders are the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD). The latest edition of the DSM (the fifth), published in 2013, included new criteria for defining “cannabis use disorder”, which has sparked debate and criticism within the scientific community (1-3).

What substances can cause addiction?

When considering whether CBD causes addiction, it is crucial to understand that addiction is not limited to drugs alone, but can arise with a variety of substances, and even with addictive behaviours or activities.

The potential to cause dependence problems varies among substances that affect the central nervous system. Drugs such as opiates, amphetamines and cocaine have greater addictive potential than other substances such as MDMA or cannabis. Furthermore, not all illegal substances cause dependence. For example, the dependence potential of LSD and psychedelics in general is zero (4).

On the other hand, some prescription medicines can also cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms when stopped abruptly, such as benzodiazepines, zolpidem and its derivatives, pregabalin or some antidepressants. There is a myth that addictions are exclusive to drugs, but the reality is that the distinction between “drugs” and “medicines” is more theoretical than real.

What are the symptoms of an addiction?

Addictions can take the form of physical and psychological dependence. Physical dependence involves changes in the body due to continued use of an addictive substance, such as the development of tolerance and withdrawal syndrome. Tolerance refers to the need for ever-higher doses to obtain the same initial effect of a substance, which leads to increased use and the development of physical dependence. Withdrawal syndrome, on the other hand, is the set of symptoms that appear when use of an addictive substance is stopped abruptly. These symptoms can be unpleasant and may vary depending on the type of substance and the severity of the addiction. Avoiding withdrawal syndrome is one of the causes that perpetuate physical addiction.

In contrast, psychological addiction centres on the emotional and behavioural aspects related to the compulsive desire to use an addictive substance or engage in an addictive activity or behaviour. Unlike physical addiction, psychological addiction is not necessarily linked to changes in the body, but rather to patterns of thought and behaviour that sustain the compulsive desire to use or to engage in the addictive activity. Emotional and psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression, boredom or the need to escape, can contribute to the development of psychological addiction.

The difference between physical and psychological dependence is theoretical, since the brain is the anatomical and functional substrate of both the psychological and the physical. The psychic or mental sphere also brings about objective, measurable changes in the central nervous system. Ultimately, addiction involves a complex interaction between the physical and psychological aspects of the individual.

In which parts of the brain do addictions arise?

At an anatomical level, addictions are related to the set of brain structures that make up the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system (9). On the one hand, this network includes the mesolimbic pathway, which connects the ventral tegmental area with the nucleus accumbens and plays a crucial role in the perception of reward and the formation of memories associated with pleasure. It also involves the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for judgement, decision-making and impulse control.

A decline in prefrontal function can contribute to perpetuating addictive behaviour, making it harder for the person to stop using substances or engaging in addictive activities.

The relationship between dopamine, addictions and CBD

At a neurobiological level, addictions involve the brain's reward system, in which dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation, plays a key role in reinforcing addictive behaviour. Dopamine strengthens the association between the addictive stimulus and pleasure, thus setting up a positive feedback loop (8).

How CBD affects dopamine, GABA and serotonin

Over time, repeated exposure to addictive substances or behaviours leads to lasting changes in the brain, strengthening the neural connections related to addiction. This creates greater dependence and tolerance, which leads to compulsive seeking of the addictive substance or activity.

CBD can influence the brain's reward and dopamine circuits, but differently from the way addictive substances do. Although it is still an area under study, it has been suggested that cannabidiol may affect the brain's reward circuits by reducing the pleasurable effect of addictive substances and, in turn, lowering the motivation to use them. In addition, through the endocannabinoid system, CBD could help reduce the anxiety associated with withdrawal from addictive substances.

Scientific studies on whether CBD is addictive

Scientific studies on the addictive potential of CBD have concluded that this cannabinoid has no addictive effects, at least as this concept is applied to other psychoactive substances, and according to studies in cell cultures (13-15) and laboratory animals. (16-18)

• CBD does not activate the mechanisms and neural pathways that other drugs stimulate.
• It does not induce the behavioural changes observed in animals exposed to addictive drugs.
• It does not produce pharmacological tolerance or withdrawal syndrome.
• No cases of people addicted to cannabidiol have been published.

CBD's lack of psychoactive properties has been linked to its zero potential for addiction or dependence. In fact, it has anti-addictive properties, and its potential as a medicine for treating various addictions is currently being studied.

It is important to point out that the addictive potential of cannabis is linked solely to THC, the main psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant. When considering the addictive potential of any substance, psychological and social factors must also be taken into account. Addictive disorders linked to cannabis are less common than those associated with substances such as alcohol, tobacco or cocaine (19). Where cannabis-related addictive disorders do occur, THC is the pharmacological compound involved.

How do we determine what is addictive?

Scientific studies investigating the addictive potential of substances are based on the neurobiological model of addiction, which presents it as a problem of neurotransmitters and brain pathways. However, it is important to recognise that this approach has been criticised for being reductionist and for excluding other relevant factors, such as the social, cultural and psychological context.

The evidence on addictive substances comes mainly from studies carried out on laboratory animals (above all rats and mice) under controlled laboratory conditions. In this experimental setting, it is possible to make a mouse become addicted to a substance. But it is relevant, for example, that when these experiments are carried out in spaces where the animals have access to play, they show a huge lack of interest in drugs. (10)

Furthermore, the neurobiological model leaves aside other relevant factors such as people's social, cultural and psychological context. This reductionist approach overlooks the psychosocial, environmental and genetic factors that also play an important role in the development of addictions. (11)

It is clear, and important to stress, that the development of addictions in humans can be very different from what is observed in laboratory animals. Animal and human behaviour are very different, especially in aspects involving cultural conditioning, such as eating or sexuality. In activities related to these aspects, people (at least the vast majority) do not behave like dogs or mice.

After fifty years of experimentation, not a single effective drug treatment based on this neurobiological model has yet been found. It is significant that language and communication (psychotherapy) are among the most effective treatments for addictive disorders, which suggests that this is probably an exclusively human behaviour (12).

This highlights the importance of professional assessment in diagnosing addictions, as scientific research often leaves human factors out of its studies and may not reflect the reality of a substance.

In conclusion…

Overall, CBD is a safe, non-psychoactive and non-addictive substance. Appropriate, responsible use is recommended. Where there are concerns about addiction, a professional assessment and an individualised response are essential.

This article is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, prevent or cure any disease or symptom. Its content may complement, but never replace, the diagnosis or treatment of any disease or symptom. Cannactiva products are not medicines. We recommend that you consult a healthcare professional before using CBD products, especially if you have a history of addiction or other health problems.