Can Marijuana or CBD Help With Alcohol Withdrawal?

We all know that hard drugs come with intense withdrawal symptoms, however, many of us overlook those that come with quitting booze. Going cold turkey can cause severe symptoms and even result in a life-threatening condition known as delirium tremens. Can cannabis help heavy drinkers put down the bottle while minimising the effects of withdrawal? Find out below.

What Is Alcohol Withdrawal?

Alcohol withdrawal, also known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS), occurs when somebody who drinks heavily stops abruptly or drastically reduces their alcohol intake. As a depressant, alcohol changes the neurochemical balance in the brain in two primary ways^[1].

First, alcohol increases the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at GABA receptors. As the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, GABA reduces impulses between neurons; increased levels underpin the relaxing and anxiety-alleviating effects of drinking. Alcohol further decreases neural activity by inhibiting glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter. Over time, the continuous and frequent use of alcohol causes adaptive changes^[2] in the balance between these key neurotransmitters, including the downregulation of GABA inhibition, which leads to a surge in glutamate release when heavy drinkers suddenly stop. Increased levels of glutamate, without sufficient GABA to tame the excess, lead to hyper-excitability, resulting in potential nerve damage^[3] and a range of uncomfortable symptoms.

Alcohol Withdrawal vs Alcohol Use Disorder vs Alcoholism

AWS refers to a set of symptoms that accompany sudden abstinence from alcohol in heavy drinkers. The syndrome comes about due to chemical changes in the brain and causes symptoms that vary in severity, from mild anxiety to seizures.

Rather than a collection of symptoms, both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcoholism are two terms used interchangeably to refer to harmful patterns of drinking. However, differences exist between the terms AUD and alcoholism. AUD serves as a clinical diagnosis defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5). To formulate a diagnosis, clinicians have to identify at least two out of eleven criteria in patients, including:

1. Drinking more than intended
2. Feeling incapable of reducing alcohol consumption
3. Falling ill for a long period of time due to excess alcohol consumption
4. Inability to concentrate because of alcohol cravings
5. Inability to care for family or uphold responsibilities
6. Continuing to drink despite problems with family and friends
7. Decreased participation in activities once thought of as important
8. Experiencing dangerous situations because of alcohol use
9. Continuing to drink despite existing health problems such as anxiety and depression
10. Consuming more alcohol due to developed tolerance
11. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms

Clinicians then diagnose the severity of AUD based on how many of these points patients present:

• Mild: 2–3 points
• Moderate: 4–5 points
• Severe: 6 or more points

Whereas AUD is a clinical diagnosis, the non-medical term “alcoholism” refers to alcohol dependence in a general sense, outside of a medical diagnosis.

Symptoms of Alcohol Withdrawal

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome vary in severity, and appear anywhere from six hours to several days after a person stops drinking. The symptoms often become more pronounced over the first 2–3 days following abstinence, and include:

During severe cases of alcohol withdrawal syndrome, patients can develop a life-threatening condition known as delirium tremens (DT). This results from overactivity of the central nervous system and manifests in the following symptoms:

Cannabis and Alcohol Withdrawal

So, where does cannabis fit into the picture? Can weed help with alcohol withdrawal? Or could hitting a joint or vape make things worse? Limited research exists around the use of cannabis in this context, though early studies have explored the efficacy of its constituents in reducing alcohol intake and negating the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. To get an idea of how cannabis might modulate neurotransmitter firing in a way that buffers against AWS symptoms, we need to briefly address the endocannabinoid system (ECS).

The ECS plays a regulatory role and helps to keep other physiological systems in balance. It consists of three core parts: endocannabinoids (signalling molecules), receptors (CB1 and CB2), and enzymes that build and deconstruct endocannabinoids. All of these components also belong to a much more complex system known as the endocannabinoidome (eCBome). In the brain, ECS components are found on and within neurons, where they help to govern the flow of neurotransmitters including GABA and glutamate.

Much like other neurotransmitters, including dopamine and serotonin, endocannabinoids can travel in an anterograde fashion, meaning they cross the synaptic cleft from presynaptic neurons to postsynaptic neurons. However, they feature a unique ability that enables them to control incoming traffic to postsynaptic neurons; they travel backwards across the synaptic cleft, bind to the CB1 receptor on presynaptic neurons, and inhibit the release^[4] of both GABA and glutamate.

Endocannabinoids drive homeostasis in the central nervous system through CB1 receptor activation. Cannabinoids derived from cannabis, including THC, are also able to bind to and activate this site. This presents the possibility that certain cannabinoids could tame the glutamate surge that underpins the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Research^[5] conducted in 2016 suggests that THC, the main psychoactive constituent in cannabis, depresses glutamate synaptic transmission through its interaction with CB1. Future studies will hopefully identify other cannabinoids capable of inhibiting glutamate, and the viability of this interaction in helping to alleviate alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Abstinence vs Harm Reduction

Before we delve further into the research surrounding alcohol withdrawal and specific cannabinoids, it’s important to highlight the distinction between abstinence and harm reduction. The approach of abstinence—the mainstay of numerous rehabilitation programmes—requires users to completely abandon the use of alcohol and drugs. While this strategy has helped countless people beat addiction, it doesn’t always work. For example, some users find success in swapping out a more harmful substance with a less dangerous one.

As opposed to abstinence, harm reduction centres around educating users about safer drug use. This approach aims to assist users by informing them about the safest ways to take drugs and methods to decrease the amount they take and the damage done by consumption. Take opioid addiction, for example. Some researchers suggest that physicians should consider prescribing^[6] cannabis in place of these highly addictive painkillers as a form of harm reduction.

THC and Alcohol Withdrawal

The research surrounding THC for alcohol withdrawal is limited. A 2014 review^[7] considers cannabis as a potential substitute medication for alcohol, concluding that weed could serve as a substitute, but that robust trials are needed to determine its efficacy. The review also mentions that cannabis might prove a safer option than current substitute drugs, including benzodiazepines and other pharmaceuticals.

While human trials pitching THC against alcohol withdrawal are generally lacking, studies have tested the cannabinoid against symptoms of the condition, including nausea and insomnia, as well as markers of pathophysiology, such as inflammation.

CBD and Alcohol Withdrawal

In contrast to THC, CBD is not an agonist of the CB1 receptor, and therefore produces no psychotropic effects. However, the molecule influences ECS enzyme activity and binds to an array of eCBome receptors. But what does this mean for alcohol withdrawal symptoms?

More research exists around CBD and the symptoms of the syndrome than with THC, but human trials are still lacking. A review^[15] published in 2019 analises the available data, including preclinical animal models, and focuses on the following outcome measures:

• Neuroprotective effects against adverse alcohol consequences
• Stress-elicited alcohol-seeking
• Alcohol self-administration
• Withdrawal-induced convulsions

The review also assesses human studies, and notes that CBD appears well-tolerated. Interestingly, research indicates that CBD exerts direct actions^[16] at the GABA-A receptor, a site involved in anticonvulsant and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects, and a receptor targeted by drugs used to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms. However, researchers have found that CBD binds to a different site on these receptors.

Much like THC, the endocannabinoid anandamide also binds to the CB1 receptor and helps to govern neurotransmission. By competing^[17] with anandamide at fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs), CBD may help to temporarily raise anandamide levels and prevent its breakdown by the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH).

Cannabis Consumption and Alcohol Withdrawal

Can smoking weed help with alcohol withdrawal? Science hasn’t figured that out yet, but that hasn’t stopped people from using the herb for this purpose. There are several different ways to consume cannabis, and hopefully, studies will eventually determine the route of administration and dosing guidelines best suited to address alcohol withdrawal syndrome. In the meantime, check out the main ways that people use cannabis below.

🍃 Smoking

Many marijuana users choose to smoke cannabis flowers. Some buds offer high levels of THC, some CBD, and some equal quantities of both. When smoking, cannabinoids rapidly enter the bloodstream via the alveoli of the lungs. Despite this fast onset, smoking exposes users to a range of health risks, especially those of a respiratory nature.

💨 Vaping

Like smoking, vaping also offers a rapid onset of effects. However, vaporisers use lower temperatures to liberate cannabinoids, terpenes, and other constituents as opposed to combusting them. This may pose less of a risk to health, but it doesn’t remove the risk entirely.

🍬 Edibles

Edibles, including gummies, autumn under the umbrella of oral administration. Eating cannabis-infused foods sends cannabinoids through first-pass metabolism. During this process, THC is converted into a much more potent molecule in the liver. As such, edibles offer a more intense psychoactive experience that takes longer to set in, but also lasts much longer. While oral administration removes the risks associated with smoking and vaping, cannabinoids have poor bioavailability, and a large concentration doesn't make it into the bloodstream.

Mixing Cannabis and Alcohol

When discussing alcohol and cannabis, people often wonder if they can take the two together. While it’s possible to enjoy a cold beer alongside a joint, things can easily get out of hand. Drinking alcohol significantly increases THC levels in the bloodstream, resulting in a more pronounced effect. Add too many drinks to the equation, and you can expect to find yourself disoriented and feeling sick. If you want to combine the two, go low and slow—and most importantly, know your limits.

What about mixing CBD with alcohol? Well, a rather aged 1979 study examines the interaction between CBD and alcohol^[20] in humans. The authors claim that CBD lowered blood alcohol level; however, participants also experienced impairments in motor performance and alterations in their perception of time compared to taking CBD alone. As with THC, proceed low and slow, and see how your body reacts to taking these substances simultaneously.

Replacing Alcohol With Weed

Can weed help alcohol withdrawal? Does cannabis serve as an effective drug substitute? We don’t yet have the answers to these questions. We know that the ECS plays a key role in nervous system firing, and we know that cannabis compounds are capable of interfacing with this system. For now, treatments for these symptoms remain limited, and anybody suddenly quitting booze after heavy drinking is in for a rough time. We require robust human trials to determine if cannabis can help people to reduce their alcohol intake, quit altogether, and minimise the severity of alcohol withdrawal syndrome symptoms.

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