CBD Showed Promise for Reducing Opioid Cravings in Early Research
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.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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.
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?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
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Registered systematic review with comprehensive search, but the tiny clinical evidence base (74 participants) and mixed preclinical results limit confidence.
- Study Age:
- Published 2025, searching through December 2023.
- Original Title:
- The Potential Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review.
- Published In:
- Addiction biology, 30(5), e70047 (2025)
- Authors:
- Shafie, Mahan, Ing, Kevin, Rostam-Abadi, Yasna, Weleff, Jeremy, Griffin, Mackenzie, Ranganathan, Mohini, Mohammad Aghaei, Ardavan, Pratt, Nicholas, Funaro, Melissa C, Bassir Nia, Anahita
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07628
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07628APA
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
MLA
Shafie, Mahan, et al. "The Potential Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review.." Addiction biology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/adb.70047
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "The Potential Use of Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Opioid ..." RTHC-07628. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/shafie-2025-the-potential-use-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.