ADD and ADHD and cannabis

There are a huge number of different mental and behavioral disorders, affecting millions of people. Although they vary in severity and intensity, there is one that is probably the most widespread in childhood: ADHD.

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a complex disorder. It has been misclassified and overdiagnosed over the past decade. People who suffer from it face all kinds of horrific symptoms and effects, which prevent them from functioning properly or comfortably in society.

However, hope is not entirely lost. In recent years, scientists have hypothesized that we could use CBD oil to treat ADHD. So, what does the science say about CBD and ADHD?

First of all: What is ADHD?

To be able to understand how CBD interacts with ADHD, we first need to understand what ADHD is.

ADHD is a behavioral disorder that makes it difficult for sufferers to concentrate. Typical symptoms are chronic inattention, hyperactivity and increased impulsivity.

So a person with ADHD is not only unable to pay sufficient attention or stay present in the moment. Nor can they stop acting on their impulses. These can range from sporadic movements and jerks to the need to immediately express a desire for physical activity in the most severe cases.

As can be imagined, the most obvious expression of this disorder is at school. When a child suffers from ADHD, he or she is unable to pay attention in class or stay in his or her place. But it doesn't stop there. They may also be unable to eat properly, fall asleep or remember what is said to them.

What causes ADHD?

The disease itself is not fully understood neurologically. However, most scientists agree that ADHD is generally caused by an insufficient release of dopamine in the brain.

The big problem is that some people think ADHD is an illness invented to explain bad behavior. This is due to the considerable frequency of misdiagnosis in recent years, due to the lack of sufficient classification criteria for the condition.

This means that many doctors and psychologists were diagnosing people with ADHD when they were simply misbehaving or struggling with something in their personal lives.

So what can we do about it? What kind of treatment options are available for people living with ADHD?

What are we currently doing to treat ADHD?

Currently, experts treat ADHD with a combination of medication and cognitive-behavioural therapy. By combining drugs that seek to modify brain function with psychoanalytic techniques, doctors hope to re-educate the brain.

Ritalin and Adderall are two of the most common treatments for ADHD. Both treat the outward symptoms of the disease and attempt to make daily life more bearable. These drugs work by regulating the release of dopamine, as well as the rate at which the brain releases norepinephrine.

One of the positive effects of these drugs is that they also improve cognitive abilities to help ADHD sufferers concentrate. This means that users experience a much greater memory capacity, as well as a compulsive desire to work or finish something.

This may sound wonderful, but remember that these drugs modify brain function and overload certain parts of the brain in an attempt to compensate for deficiencies in other areas.

These drugs are frequently abused because they are over-prescribed. This has led to a serious epidemic of addiction, with thousands of people hooked on pills that needlessly alter their mental state. Many people use them as a study aid or concentration tool, so much so that Adderall is an infamous street drug at competitive universities.

If only there were another, better way. Could we instead use natural CBD oil to try to treat ADHD?

How does CBD help ADHD?

The idea of using CBD oil to alleviate ADHD symptoms is still a somewhat contested topic in the US and around the world.

While there are plenty of people using CBD oil to treat all sorts of different conditions these days, there are still many who fear CBD oil because it comes from cannabis, a plant long banned in the United States.

How does CBD oil help ADHD?

However, the situation is slowly changing, as more and more people (and scientists) become aware of the potential uses of the CBD.

People often consider cannabis users to be lazy by nature and don't associate cannabis consumption with the ability to concentrate. Given this reputation, it makes sense that people are reluctant to prescribe cannabis to ADHD sufferers.

CBD and ADHD: The research

Some studies, like the one carried out by the University of Washington for the Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute, indicate that marijuana is potentially dangerous for people with ADHD. It increases the intensity of ADHD symptoms, as well as the risk of developing cannabis abuse disorders.

Although THC and CBD are both phytocannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, they are entirely separate compounds with very different effects. The main difference between the two compounds is that THC induces a state of mental euphoria, while CBD does not.

Unfortunately, current scientific studies on the potential of CBD oil to treat ADHD are scarce.

The collaborative effects of CBD oil - What else can it do?

However, there's something more important that many people overlook when considering the benefits of CBD in treating symptoms associated with ADHD: its general effects on the body. CBD is well known for its ability to improve mood and generally help symptoms such as anxiety and depression. It is also incredibly effective in treating addiction.

In their seminal study, Gonzalez Cuevas et al. evaluated the anti-relapse potential of a transdermal CBD preparation in animal models in relation to drug-seeking behavior, anxiety and impulsivity.

Gonzalez Cuevas et al. found that CBD attenuated context- and stress-induced drug-seeking without tolerance, sedative effects or interference with normal motivated behavior.

Another significant finding of the Gonzalez Cuevas et al. study is that, although CBD levels in plasma and brain were detectable for only three days, reinstatement remained attenuated for five months after the end of treatment.

CBD and symptoms of hyperactivity

A study by Barchel and colleagues showed that CBD can significantly improve hyperactivity symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders. However, to date, there is no evidence from randomized controlled studies that support cannabis or CBD as an effective treatment for ADHD.

However, a randomized controlled trial by Cooper et al. found a nominally significant improvement in symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity in 30 adults given a cannabinoid-based medication (1:1 THC:CBD).

To date, the majority of research into ADHD and cannabis has focused on the co-occurrence of ADHD and cannabis use disorders. More research is needed to determine whether CBD can be an effective treatment for ADHD.

Final thoughts on CBD for ADHD

ADHD is one of those illnesses that is often misunderstood. Many people underestimate the devastating effect it can have due to its seemingly ubiquitous nature in today's society. Worse still, doctors prescribe sufferers far too many drugs in an attempt to treat them, drugs that are not only potentially dangerous but also extremely addictive.

Currently, research into CBD oil and its effects on ADHD is still in its infancy. However, scientists around the world are beginning to examine it and take it seriously.

Various studies point to the idea that CBD may help treat ADHD not directly, but by association. It may help treat symptoms by promoting healthy brain activity, as well as enhancing dopamine release.

Until a greater scientific consensus is reached, we know at least one thing. CBD oil seems capable of improving the lives of people with ADHD, even if only to make their symptoms more bearable.