A pre-clinical study in rats has shown that there might be value in using a non-psychoactive and non-addictive ingredient of the Cannabis sativa plant to reduce the risk of relapse among recovering drug and alcohol addicts, according to a study in Neuropsychopharmacology . Staying drug-free is a constant battle for abstinent addicts. This struggle is made more difficult when former-addicts find themselves in drug-related settings, experience stress or higher levels of anxiousness. Many struggle to control their impulses when offered an addictive drug like alcohol or cocaine. The researchers tested the effect of Cannabidiol (CBD) on drug relapse in a rat model. CBD is the major non-psychoactive ingredient of Cannabis sativa , a plant that is used to make marijuana. They found that CBD effectively reduced relapse provoked by stress and drug cues. It also reduced anxiety and impulsivity in the drug-experienced rats. Further, it was completely cleared from the brain and plasma of the rats three days after the therapy was completed.
