Eesh, okay, strap in, this is going to be a bit of a bumpy ride for all of us. It’s an understandable question, giving the issues that are reported around the world, is there an alternative to opiates? And ultimately, is Is CBD an Alternative to Opiates?
We have to tred hella careful when broaching this subject, and we are going to do exactly that. Not only are we aware of regulatory regulations (which are, in fairness, understandable when discussing this issue) we also know that this is a very controversial and sensitive subject, and one most people have an opinion on.
To make it clear from the outset, this article will not end with a conclusive answer to the question in the title, at this point, there simply isn’t one.
However, we wouldn’t feel like we were doing our job right if we didn’t tentatively, but gracefully swan dive into this particular pool of controversy lava, so strap your armbands on and cannonball in after us, let’s see if we can make the issue a little clearer for everyone (ourselves included!).
Chances are, you’ve heard about opioids, or opiates, who know the difference? Actually, we do, so let’s take a quick break from this tough subject for a rapid science lesson.
Opiates are natural substances derived from opium, such as codeine and morphine. Opioids refers to synthetic (or semi-synthetic) products that bind to receptors in the same way as opiates but are not naturally occurring. For this article, we’ll probably keep switching between the two words whenever we fancy, though.
The reason opioids are spoken about so much at the moment is that, in the eyes of many, we are in the middle of an epidemic.
There is much speculation as to why, we are not here to give our opinion on that, but what is pretty much accepted is that opioid addiction is becoming a real issue. The problem is most apparent in the United States, where the statistics are scary and are explained in detail here.
What’s the Answer? Is CBD an Alternative to Opiates!?
Understandably, a strong talking point is what the resolution is, how to solve to the opioid crisis, and as is natural, many are reaching out for an alternative.
So, is CBD the alternative? Is this natural, non-psychoactive cannabinoid the way to back away from opioids and treat certain illnesses with a less problematic substance?
We would love to just be able to say yes here, and, to be fair, to do so would probably do favours to our profit margins, but that is simply not how we work.
Plant & Hemp started on one promise, that we would be honest and transparent at all times, and that’s what we’re going to do here.
The truth is, we simply don’t know whether CBD could be an alternative to opioids and if it could, in what situations.
One thing we can be sure of is that it is highly doubtful that every illness and condition treated with opiates could be treated just as well with CBD, but on the other side, it is entirely possible that a certain number could.
The science is underway, well underway in some cases, to discover what the effects of CBD are in certain conditions that affect the human body, and in some instances, the results so far have been promising.
Promising results, however, are only an early step on a long road that has only so far been completed by the research into CBD and certain forms of epilepsy, which is why Epidiolex is, at the point of writing, and quite possibly for the foreseeable future, the only medication containing CBD that has received FDA approval.
In time, it is possible that CBD could become a viable medicine for certain conditions, and it is not entirely unlikely that some of these conditions will be those currently being treated with opioids, but it is not going to be an overnight thing. Is CBD an Alternative to Opiates? Only time will tell…
Opioid addiction is a disease that affects many people and is something the person writing this article is all too familiar with, and action should be taken quickly.
If you are worried that you, or somebody you love, may be suffering from an addiction to opioids, call somebody, there are headlines all over the world that offer assistance, and services that are there to help. For more information about what to do if you are worried you may have an opioid addiction, there is a lot of valuable information in this article.