CBD Showed Promise for Reducing Opioid Cravings in Early Research | Research

The takeaway

A systematic review of 4 clinical studies (74 participants) and 16 preclinical studies found CBD may reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, though the evidence base remains small and mixed.

Addiction medicine researchers, clinicians treating OUD, and policymakers evaluating novel approaches to the opioid crisis.

What the researchers found

Human clinical studies showed CBD reduced cravings and alleviated abstinence-induced anxiety in opioid use disorder. Preclinical studies showed CBD reduced withdrawal symptoms and diminished opioid reward in conditioned place preference tests, though results were mixed. CBD was well-tolerated during opioid use and withdrawal across studies.

Why it matters

The opioid crisis demands new treatment approaches. Current medications (methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone) are effective but underutilized and carry their own challenges. CBD, if effective, could offer a non-addictive, well-tolerated complementary approach to OUD treatment.

The numbers in context

4 clinical studies (74 total participants). 16 preclinical studies. CBD reduced cravings and anxiety in human studies. Mixed results on withdrawal symptoms and opioid reward in preclinical studies. Overall quality: 'some concerns' (human), 'unclear' risk (preclinical).

How the study worked

Systematic review searching MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, CDSR, and CENTRAL through December 2023. Included original peer-reviewed human and animal studies of CBD for OUD outcomes. Risk of bias assessed with Cochrane tool (human) and SYRCLE (animal). PROSPERO: CRD42023401446.

What this study cannot tell us

Only 4 clinical studies with 74 total participants. Short follow-up periods. No studies examined CBD as a combination therapy with standard OUD medications. Heterogeneity across preclinical study designs. Studies excluded CBD combined with THC, limiting applicability to whole-plant cannabis.

How to read the evidence

Registered systematic review with comprehensive search, but the tiny clinical evidence base (74 participants) and mixed preclinical results limit confidence.

When this study was published

Published 2025, searching through December 2023.

The bigger picture

The signal for CBD in OUD treatment is promising but extremely early. Only 74 human participants have been studied, and the preclinical evidence is mixed. This suggests CBD should be tested in larger trials before any clinical recommendations, but the favorable safety profile makes it worth pursuing.

Questions still open

Whether CBD combined with standard OUD medications (buprenorphine, naltrexone) would improve treatment outcomes
What CBD dose and duration are needed for meaningful craving reduction in real-world OUD treatment

Common questions

Can CBD treat opioid addiction?

It is too early to say. The human evidence comes from only 74 participants across 4 studies, showing reduced cravings and anxiety. This is promising but far too little data to recommend CBD as an OUD treatment. Larger clinical trials are needed.

How might CBD help with opioid cravings?

CBD interacts with serotonin receptors and the endocannabinoid system, both of which are involved in stress, anxiety, and reward processing. By reducing anxiety during abstinence, CBD may make cravings more manageable, though the exact mechanism is still being studied.

Read the original research

The Potential Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Addiction biology, 30(5), e70047

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Shafie, Mahan; Ing, Kevin; Rostam-Abadi, Yasna; Weleff, Jeremy; Griffin, Mackenzie; Ranganathan, Mohini; Mohammad Aghaei, Ardavan; Pratt, Nicholas; Funaro, Melissa C; Bassir Nia, Anahita. (2025). The Potential Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review.. Addiction biology, 30(5), e70047. https://doi.org/10.1111/adb.70047