Is CBD addictive? Effects of longterm use

What is addiction?

According to Medical News Today, addiction is “an inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior even though it is causing psychological and physical harm.”

Addiction experts have outlined three parameters that have the ability to influence addiction and potential drug dependency.

Pleasure seeking triggers

The nucleus accumbens, an area within the brain’s hypothalamus, is responsible for controlling addictive behaviors. Addictive substances, like caffeine and nicotine, cause an influx of dopamine to the nucleus accumbens, which makes you feel euphoric.

It is thought that the chances of you getting addicted to this sensation (and therefore the trigger) are connected to the intensity, reliability, and speed of dopamine build-up. How and how often you consume a substance can therefore affect your dopamine response and brain reward function.

Learned behaviors

Some scientists believe that learned behavior, the activity that led to this dopamine surge, is even more significant. In this case, dopamine interacts with glutamate, creating specific associations within the brain between the feelings of euphoria and what triggered them. This explains why some people become addicted to a specific activity or behavior, not involving a particular substance.

Prolonged use of substance

Certain substances of abuse, such as opioids, can also cause physical dependence in the nerve cells located in your nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex. Prolonged use of certain drugs is very dangerous as your tolerance to the substance builds, leaving you with a high risk of lethal overdose.

Physical dependence (drug addictions) can lead to severe, sometimes life-threatening, withdrawal symptoms if you try to give the substance up, including pain, tremors, nausea, vomiting, and depression.