I want to cut back on alcohol—can CBD gummies chill me out?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 31% of Americans will experience an anxiety disorder. So, of course, this statistic does not surprise us, and it certainly helps explain the question we get asked the most: Can CBD gummies help me cut back on drinking?
The short answer is yes.
In 2019 an animal study on the effects of CBD on Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and alcohol-related illness showed promising results. This study, among other studies, suggests that CBD may inhibit the compulsion to keep drinking while reducing inflammation in the liver.
Now, imagining little mice pressing a lever to get their daily fix of ethanol is a strange/comical/sad tableau—and thus, we thank them for their service and sacrifice. This research is critical because one in five deaths worldwide is due to a substance abuse disorder and because, unlike THC, CBD "lacks addictive potential."
How does CBD work to curb alcohol cravings?
We know that AUD is serious and if you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, please seek professional help. Here, we are talking about that glass of wine that turns into four on a weeknight and leaves you feeling groggy the next day. We've all been there—a stressful day leads to the craving to escape. That is where CBD can help.
Studies have shown that CBD is non-addictive and does not cause withdrawals, and the FDA recently released a report in May of 2022 demonstrating CBD's safety profile. These findings are fascinating, and researchers are busy working on expanding upon them to address the growing need for safe ways to treat AUD and, for us, ways to get that calm without the hangover.
Early results point to CBD working to sensitize the motivation to continue drinking—albeit thus far, only mice have found this to be true—but similar human volunteer studies treating substance addictions have yielded similar results.
Anecdotal evidence
I enjoy alcohol of all ilks. Mender's HQ is smack dab in the middle of California's wine country— right outside the Templeton Gap AVA—and I love a beautiful Syrah. Our brick-and-mortar CBD shop is next door to a distillery, and nothing hits like a fresh G & T on a hot day.
But like so many of our customers, the stress of the pandemic and all that comes with it has been crippling at times. As a result, I find myself throwing back more than I should under the guise of "living my best life." So I started experimenting with our CBD:CBG Calming Sweets.
In the early evenings, after the dinner routine, I have been taking one 25mg gummy and settling in with an icy mocktail. Then, if I am in the mood and know I am staying put, I may sip on a little red wine (be careful; this can make some people drowsy!), and I find I don't reach for the bottle for more like I usually do.
In my experience, the CBD and CBG relax me, which is what I am after with alcohol anyway. And because I am keeping my intake low—25mg of CBD and CBG combined—I don't experience any drowsiness high doses can bring. Instead, I feel clear-headed and focused—another exciting finding of CBD's effect in some pre-clinical studies.
I especially love the Mender gummies because of the CBG. This potent mother molecule could help us regulate our stress and fear responses, thus lowering our anxiety levels. And after a long day, it feels good to reach for the gummies and keep my consumption in check.