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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2025

Tobacco Hornworm as an Insect Model System for Cannabinoid Pre-clinical Studies

Tobacco Hornworm as an Insect Model System for Cannabinoid Pre-clinical Studies

Published on: December 29, 2021

Cannabidiol and addiction.

Rayssa C Briânis¹, Fabrício A Moreira¹, Lia P Iglesias¹

¹Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

International Review of Neurobiology

|July 19, 2024

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cannabidiol (CBD) shows promise for treating substance use disorders (SUD), particularly those involving psychostimulant drugs. Further research is needed, but early findings suggest CBD could be a valuable addition to SUD pharmacotherapy.

Keywords:

Addiction Cannabidiol Cannabinoids Drugs of abuse Substance use disorders

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Area of Science:

Pharmacology
Neuroscience
Addiction Medicine

Background:

Substance Use Disorders (SUD) represent a significant global health challenge with limited effective treatments.
Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid, has demonstrated therapeutic potential in neurological conditions like epilepsy.
The application of CBD for SUD remains relatively understudied compared to other neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the existing preclinical and clinical evidence for CBD's efficacy in treating substance use disorders.
To explore the potential molecular mechanisms underlying CBD's therapeutic effects in SUD.
To summarize current findings and outline future research perspectives for CBD in SUD pharmacotherapy.

Main Methods:

Review of preclinical studies investigating CBD's effects on substance-seeking behaviors.
Analysis of clinical trials assessing CBD's safety and efficacy in individuals with SUD.
Exploration of neurobiological pathways potentially modulated by CBD relevant to addiction.

Main Results:

Preclinical data suggest CBD may reduce drug-cue reactivity and relapse in animal models of addiction.
Limited clinical studies indicate CBD may reduce craving and anxiety associated with withdrawal from certain substances.
Evidence is particularly encouraging for CBD's potential in treating psychostimulant use disorders, such as cocaine addiction.

Conclusions:

Available evidence suggests CBD holds promise as a novel therapeutic agent for substance use disorders.
CBD's potential mechanism of action may involve modulation of the endocannabinoid system and related neural circuits.
Further rigorous clinical trials are warranted to establish CBD's efficacy and optimal use in SUD pharmacotherapy.