CBD reversed social behavior and brain changes caused by adolescent binge drinking in rats

Rats exposed to binge-like alcohol during adolescence showed compromised defensive social behavior, blunted stress responses, and abnormal dopamine/glutamate plasticity in the nucleus accumbens. CBD at 60 mg/kg restored social exploration, reduced corticosterone levels, normalized dopamine transmission, and facilitated synaptic remodeling.

Rat model combining binge-like alcohol exposure during adolescence with a resident-intruder social stress paradigm. CBD (60 mg/kg) was administered to assess its ability to rescue behavioral, neuroendocrine, and molecular deficits. Outcomes included social behavior, corticosterone levels, dopamine transmission, and synaptic markers.

Adolescent binge drinking combined with social stress is a common real-world scenario. Finding that CBD can reverse the resulting brain and behavioral changes opens a potential therapeutic avenue for alcohol-related harm in young people.

The intersection of adolescent alcohol use and social stress creates compounding brain effects that may contribute to lasting vulnerability. CBD targeting these mechanisms could represent a novel approach to alcohol-related harm.

Animal model with a single CBD dose. The resident-intruder paradigm is a specific type of social stress that may not capture all human social stressors. CBD dose (60 mg/kg) is high relative to typical human dosing.