30 Jul CBD: A Ray Of Hope Against SUD
Did you know more than one in four military deaths are attributed to substances of abuse? The stats clearly show that addiction is a prevalent issue in the United States military. Work stress from the hectic military lifestyle that includes combat exposure and warzone paves the way for an epidemic of drug use. Although illicit drug use is at an all-time low, alcohol consumption and prescription opioid abuse are major areas of concern. The army reported that over 45 percent of the 397 noncombat-related deaths between 2006 and 2009, was the result of alcohol or drug overdose.
Most of us know that alcohol consumption is customary among service members. They drink on several occasions: socially or leisurely, to celebrate or to promote solidarity and camaraderie within their battalion.
Combat exposure and deployments are important factors for the growing alcohol consumption rate among service members. Veterans frequently use alcohol as a coping mechanism after they come back from stressful and traumatic events. Some veterans even use alcohol to self-medicate mental health issues.
Alcohol Consumption In Veterans and Service Members
In a survey almost 47 percent of active duty service members admitted to binge drinking in 2008.In 2006, the U.S. military lost an astounding $1.2 billion in medical expenditures and productivity because of excessive alcohol consumption.
Illicit Drugs
Illicit drug use in the military has declined with the implementation of random drug testing policies in 1982. A 2008 Department of Defense survey stated that 2.3 percent of military members used an illicit drug in the last month.
Some commonly used illicit drugs among military personnels are:
Heroin
Cocaine
Opioids
Marijuana
The easy availability and access to prescription opioids poses a serious medical threat for the military. The abuse of prescription opioid pain relievers has taken epic proportions among service members.
Service members return from combat zones with multiple problems including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or traumatic brain injuries. While some of these injuries and mental illnesses require the use of opioid pain relievers, a portion of service members misuse them.
Prescription Medications
National records revealed that the two most common prescription drugs veterans abuse after the military are opioid pain medications and benzodiazepines.
Research shows that CBD has a great potential to alleviate the symptoms of substance addiction.
CBD for Alcoholism
Alcoholism is one of the most massive epidemics within the world of addiction. In the United States alone, on average, alcohol claims the lives of 88,000 people. Alcohol abuse can lead to liver disease, pancreatitis, cancer, stomach ulcers, immune system dysfunction, brain damage, osteoporosis, and heart disease.
Beyond the reasons to quit, it is worrying to know that alcohol withdrawal can be more dangerous than drinking. Alcohol disrupts the balance of our CB1 receptors which, in turn, affects our substance dependency. CBD’s natural relationship with our endocannabinoid system enables the molecule to rebalance the brain’s chemistry.
CBD for Prescription Drugs
Although modern medicine and the pharmaceutical industry has cured a variety of diseases or at least provided relief and support, their many side-effects can become unbearable. A variety of pharmaceutical drugs may have proven successful in treating a range of physical and mental health problems; however, one of their side effects can be an addiction. CBD has helped a staggering amount of patients who had become dependent on drugs such as Xanax, anti-depressants, and many opiate-based drugs.
Are you a veteran using CBD? We would love to know more about your experience in the comments below.
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