As of 2019, statistics show that 90 people die every day from an opioid overdose in the United States. The opioid crisis affects all kinds of people from different levels of society. Opioids became popular in the late ‘90s and have since been offered to patients by doctors as an effective solution to treat a range of conditions, including anxiety and depression. Regular people can easily get a prescription for opioid pills to help with stress, sleep, and depression troubles.
The problem is that opioids are incredibly addictive. Studies have found that opioid addiction has a close resemblance to heroin. Today, using an opioid is the first step to heroin addiction. That’s not to say that everyone who uses opioids will become an addict. But it certainly is a possibility.
This is where CBD oil comes in. In recent times, CBD has emerged as a more natural alternative to treat a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, inflammation, pain, and lots more. But does this mean that you could exchange your medication for CBD oil?
CBD Research
CBD has gained a lot of popularity in recent times because of the increase in interest from not only consumers and clinicians, but also scientists. With over 20,000 scientific articles on the cannabis plant, many believe that the medical uses for the plant are here to stay.
Several animal and human experimental, clinical, and epidemiological studies have found that CBD has powerful anti-depression and anti-anxiety properties. Also, CBD is believed to be safe, well-tolerated, and may be beneficial for disorders including:
Is CBD an Effective Alternative to Traditional Medication?
This is not an easy question to answer. For starters, it depends on the condition that needs to be treated. CBD oil is not a one-stop solution for every kind of medical disorder that exists. Furthermore, while CBD oil may be useful for treating conditions like anxiety and depression, this doesn’t mean that it will work for everyone.
However, studies done thus far have reported some promising results. The Brightfield Group – an independent marketing research firm – recently released its summary findings from a joint study done with HelloMD. A sample of 2400 HelloMD participants took part in the survey, which was aimed at better understanding the CBD market.
The study reported that 57% of CBD users use both cannabis and other medication either simultaneously or alternating. 42% reported that they left their traditional medication behind and now use only cannabis to treat the following conditions:
Also interesting to note is that 69% of respondents rated CBD products as being more effective than over-the-counter-pharmaceuticals. When comparing CBD to prescription drugs, 52% of respondents rated CBD as being more effective than prescription medications.
In summary, the study seems to suggest that CBD may be a better treatment option for certain conditions.
CBD Oil Is a Safer Option
There are too many people relying on opioids to treat temporary problems or illnesses. CBD has proven to be very efficient in certain cases (sleeping, relaxing, recovering, etc.), and new studies are constantly revealing new medicinal properties of CBD.
CBD could be a super useful alternative for treating pain since it’s known to have some great anti-inflammatory effects. And, unlike opioids, CBD isn’t known to have any dangerous side effects, and there’s no risk of developing an addiction to CBD.
It’s not just opioids that are a problem. Other prescription drugs, like Non-narcotic analgesics and NSAIDs, also come with dozens of potential side effects, including congenital anomalies, disability, and addiction.
In contrast, the side effects of CBD are minimal. Firstly, it’s non-psychoactive – which means that it won’t get you high, and it’s relatively safe to use.
If you’re looking for top-quality CBD oil, be sure to check out Purekana.
Final Thoughts on Exchanging Your Medication for CBD
CBD could certainly be an effective alternative to one’s traditional medication, depending on the condition you are looking to treat. However, you should still exercise caution. Research into CBD is very limited, and there is no guarantee that it will work.
That said, many people have found much-needed relief thanks to CBD. But before exchanging your medication for CBD oil, be sure to consult your doctor.
