Smoking cessation is challenging since nicotine addiction triggers intense withdrawal symptoms that can keep smokers hooked. Most smokers attempt to quit smoking using conventional methods, including nicotine replacement therapy and prescription medication. However, for those who are hesitant to take prescription drugs or use nicotine therapy, alternative methods, such as using CBD, may hold the key to quitting.
CBD consumers advocate for the effectiveness of the substance when used in various treatment areas such as pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders. However, can CBD be a reliable supplement for quitting smoking? In this article, we will take a closer look at CBD and how it could potentially help smokers end their nicotine addiction.
What to Expect When You Decide to Quit
Before examining how CBD could aid in quitting smoking, it’s essential to evaluate the process of quitting itself. Some people consider smoking an addiction based on psychology and behavior rather than a physical addiction or dependence. As such, withdrawal symptoms and timing can vary depending on an individual’s smoking habits and history.
Nicotine Withdrawal Symptoms
The urge to smoke causes chemical changes in your brain, and when you stop smoking, your brain and body go through significant withdrawal symptoms. For most people who want to quit, nicotine withdrawals are hugely distressing and can lead to relapse.
Common nicotine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Cravings for cigarettes
- Headaches
- Irritability or anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased appetite
These symptoms usually start after a few hours of the last cigarette and can last up to 12 weeks. When talking about quitting smoking and the process of weaning yourself off of nicotine, we should also mention the various stages of nicotine withdrawal you might experience as you embark on your journey toward a smoke-free life.
Stages of Withdrawal:
- Early (immediate through the first day) – Nicotine cravings arise alongside foggy mental health clarity and headache symptoms.
- Mid (two to three weeks) – Discomfort intensifies further, becoming physical, coupled with stress/anger symptoms and insomnia.
- Late (three to four weeks) – Patients will experience evening out manifested throughout their initial half-year without nicotine products; tempered feelings serve as a testimony that smokers have come out the other side of staying tobacco-free.
CBD: Legit Supplement or a Fad?
CBD is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a compound found in cannabis plants that causes psychoactive effects, CBD doesn’t produce a “high.”
CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which could help regulate various biological processes like appetite, mood, pain perception, and motor function. The ECS comprises endocannabinoids (cannabinoids that the body naturally produces), receptors, and enzymes that regulate the concentration of cannabinoids. CBD doesn’t bind directly to the body’s receptors; instead, it influences other compounds, like the body’s endocannabinoids.
The Effects of CBD
As we mentioned earlier, contrary to THC, the other primary cannabinoid, CBD doesn’t have any psychoactive properties, meaning that it can’t get you “high.”
Instead, CBD can interact with several receptors in the ECS that control processes such as mood, appetite, sleep, immunity, inflammation, and pain. As such, some of the primary potential health benefits of CBD may include:
- reducing anxiety
- helping individuals who struggle with depression
- managing chronic pain
Preliminary research suggests that CBD may also improve sleep quality, enhance heart health, mitigate acne, and potentially reduce psychotic symptoms.
It is important to note that there are reports of side effects associated with CBD consumption, including diarrhea, fatigue, and changes in appetite. However, they appear generally mild and infrequent. Nonetheless, if you’re considering incorporating CBD into your routine, you definitely should consult with a physician or healthcare provider before trying it out.
CBD Consumption Methods
There’s a variety of methods you can use to ingest CBD. Depending on your preferences, some of them might be more effective in helping you quit smoking than others. CBD can be:
- Taken orally as tinctures, capsules, or edibles like gummies or chocolates. This method can take up to 30 minutes to take effect, depending on the person’s digestive system.
- Inhaled using vaporizers or e-cigarettes that can deliver CBD into the lungs, where it enters the bloodstream quickly.
- Transdermally applied like topical lotions and balms.
Of course, seeing as it is derived from cannabis, it is also possible to simply smoke CBD-rich flower. However, it’s probably not the best approach for someone who wants to quit smoking cigarettes once and for all. While it may replace tobacco addiction, you’ll still be lighting up and inhaling dangerous chemicals into your lungs, which will largely negate the positive effects of dropping the habit.
CBD and Quitting Smoking: The Evidence
While research is limited, some research suggests that CBD may help reduce cigarette cravings by interacting with the brain receptors associated with addiction and mental health disorders.
One of the most promising results was seen in a 2013 study at the University College London. Researchers found that CBD can help significantly reduce cigarette addiction symptoms in subjects. A group of smokers received an inhaler with CBD, while another group had a placebo inhaler. Over a week, the CBD group reduced cigarette intake by 40%, while the placebo group showed no significant reduction. Subsequently, another experiment showed that CBD administered orally decreased cigarette consumption in rats by over 70%.
CBD also has anti-anxiety and antidepressant qualities that can help improve mood and reduce stress, which can help deal with nicotine withdrawal symptoms.
How CBD Can Help You Overcome Nicotine Addiction
Despite scientists only reaching preliminary findings regarding the effectiveness of CBD in smoking cessation, the unique properties of cannabidiol can, indeed, help you on your journey. Here are just a few ways in which CBD can keep your cravings to a minimum and provide some relief as you attempt to kick your smoking habit once and for all.
Reducing nicotine cravings
CBD influences the ECS receptors involved with nicotine addiction. When smokers inhale nicotine, it stimulates the release of dopamine in the brain’s pleasure pathway, causing smokers to feel good and crave more cigarettes.
CBD, on the other hand, has been shown to interact with these same receptors, leading to lower cravings for nicotine. Consuming CBD may help to calm the receptors and reduce cigarette cravings.
Reducing anxiety and stress
As we’ve already mentioned, CBD has anti-anxiety and antidepressant qualities. Anxiety is one of nicotine withdrawal’s common symptoms, and anything that can help reduce anxiety levels is a welcome tool for former smokers.
By interacting with the ECS, CBD reduces anxiety and may boost cognition. This aspect is particularly useful for the withdrawal process because you’re going to need a lot of cognitive resilience to fight cravings during the first few weeks of the withdrawal period.
Reducing inflammation
Smoking causes inflammation that can damage the respiratory system. CBD’s known anti-inflammatory properties might help heal some of the damage done by smoking, helping you breathe easier.
Other Helpful Alternatives
While CBD has shown promise as a possible aid in quitting smoking, it is not the only option available. Here are other solutions you may consider instead of using CBD or in tandem with it:
Heated Tobacco
Heated tobacco products, also called heat-not-burn devices, are a relatively newer option available in some markets worldwide. This technology heats tobacco without burning it, releasing nicotine vapor instead of smoke. Though they contain nicotine, heated tobacco products have fewer harmful chemicals than cigarette smoke. As such, they are considered to be a reduced-risk alternative to smoking.
E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes or vaping devices were initially introduced as a way to reduce or quit smoking. They are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid, producing an aerosol (often called a vapor) that users inhale. Instead of combustion, e-cigarettes rely on heating coils that vaporize e-juice, which often contain nicotine. While e-cigarettes can be considered less harmful than traditional cigarettes because they contain fewer toxic chemicals, they still deliver nicotine and other additives that can have health consequences.
Some studies suggest that e-cigarettes may help smokers quit smoking, others show that it may lead to dual use, where people use both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes. Ultimately, it comes down to your own preferences: if you feel like e-cigarettes don’t quite scratch the same itch as tobacco, you should refrain from using them in order to avoid doubling down on your nicotine intake.
Nicotine Gum
Nicotine gum is a type of chewing gum formulated with nicotine. It works by delivering nicotine orally to reduce nicotine cravings. When chewed, the gum releases nicotine that the body absorbs through the lining of the mouth.
It typically comes in two strengths: 2mg and 4mg. It’s available over-the-counter at drugstores and pharmacies. The package includes instructions for use, but most recommend placing a piece of gum in the mouth when the urge to smoke arises.
Nicotine Patches
Nicotine patches are small, nicotine-containing adhesive patches that users stick onto their skin. When applied directly on the skin, the patch releases nicotine that enters the bloodstream and helps reduce withdrawal symptoms and cigarette cravings.
Make the Transition Easier with NEAFS
If you want to stop smoking cigarettes but are intimidated by the prospect of doing it cold turkey, and the alternative methods we listed above are not particularly appealing to you, don’t worry! There are other ways to manage your nicotine craving and withdrawal symptoms. One of them is NEAFS. Our unique approach allows you to keep your smoke breaks, all the while reducing your dependence on nicotine and tobacco. Although we use heated tobacco technology, our cigarette sticks are made out of specially formulated plant-derived ingredients, helping you break away from tobacco once and for all.
Final Thoughts
Quitting smoking is a tough journey, especially considering nicotine withdrawal symptoms and cigarette cravings. While some research suggests that consuming CBD products may help reduce nicotine cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms, more research is needed.
The best approach to quitting smoking still involves having a solid plan, support network, and willpower. Losing the smoking habit isn’t only about breaking an addiction but also creating a new way of being, a set of habits and mindsets that support one’s desire for a healthier life.
If quitting through willpower alone hasn’t worked out for you, or you’re looking at additional options to complement your quitting journey, CBD can be worth considering, alongside other aids. However, as with all supplements, consult with your doctor before you begin.
