Everyone is aware of the fact that cigarette smoke has detrimental ramifications in the human body. In fact a 2008 research cited tobacco as the single greatest cause of preventable death internationally. Cigarettes are related to common health conditions like: heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and various types of cancer. In fact, it is estimated that each cigarette smoked shortens life expectancy by 11 minutes.
Despite the fact that must if not all, would agree that cigarettes are harmful to one’s health, quitting smoking cessation can be troublesome for a number of reasons one of which being the common occurrence of nicotine addiction. However, studies have suggested a relationship between nicotine addiction and the endocannabinoid system; the latest of which reported that Cannabidiol (CBD) could help those trying to quit smoking.
A study by UK Researchers on CBD and Cigarette Consumption
A study was published in the September issue of the journal Addictive Behaviors by a team of researchers from University College London who investigated whether low doses of cannabidiol (CBD) would help treat nicotine addiction in tobacco smokers who wanted to quit. It was led by Celia J.A. Morgan, and they used a double-blind, placebo controlled model for their study, which consisted of 24 participants (12 male, 12 female) with ages ranging between 18-35 who were required to smoke, on average, more that 10 cigarettes per day and who equally expressed a desire to break the habit.
The participants were asked to keep a record the amount of cigarettes they consumed during the week before the treatment and after baseline testing, they were split into two groups, each provided with an inhaler. One group was provided with CBD and the other received a placebo and the participants in the two groups were then instructed to use the inhaler whenever they felt the urge to smoke and to record their inhaler use and the number of cigarettes smoked in a journal during the treatment week. Additionally, participants were asked, through text message, to rate their current level of smoking once per day.
Cannabidiol (CBD) May Help Decrease Cigarette Consumption
The results of the study revealed that the group receiving cannabidiol (CBD) treatment experienced a significant reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked and that the decreased cigarette consumption occurred despite the fact that there was no change in the level of craving reported each day, which was not the case of the placebo group, as there was little-to-no change from pre- to post-treatment.
the research team stated that craving is often used to indicate the potential for relapse and that Cannabidiol (CBD) was found to reduce cigarette consumption without causing craving levels to rise.
However, more research is necessary to determine whether CBD is a viable treatment for nicotine addiction in a clinical setting. But research suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may be beneficial to those who want to quit smoking. The lead author of the study suggests that CBD may be effective in reducing cigarette use in tobacco smokers.