How to stop smoking with CBD ?

What are the dangers of smoking ?

It is estimated that among young people between the ages of 18 and 34, one out of every two people smokes at least one cigarette daily. Smokers between 26 and 75 years of age smoke an average of 15 cigarettes per day. More than half of these individuals are addicted to nicotine.

According to tobacco studies, nicotine addiction is responsible for more than 75,000 deaths each year. In 2014, the WHO (World Health Organization) revealed other alarming figures regarding tobacco. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, 250 of which are harmful to the body and 69 of which have a carcinogenic action.

WHO studies indicate that smoking can cause many health problems such as respiratory infections, asthma, cancers (larynx, esophagus, trachea, lung, etc.), coronary heart disease, cardiovascular disorders, and many others.

Faced with such health consequences, many smokers are trying to free themselves from this addiction. Indeed, smoking is considered a true form of addiction. Nicotine is said to be even more addictive than heroin, cocaine and alcohol.

What are the symptoms of cigarette withdrawal ?

To fully understand the symptoms of cigarette and tobacco withdrawal, it seems essential to go back to the mechanisms of addiction. Nicotine consumption acts on the brain by stimulating the release of dopamine. This hormone plays a fundamental role in the perception of pleasure and the management of emotions.

To experience pleasure, reduce stress and anxiety, and generally improve mood, dopamine acts on dopamine receptors. When these are over-stimulated, such as from smoking, they become less sensitive and less active.

This is where the vicious cycle and the urge to smoke more and more to achieve a certain level of pleasure and satisfaction sets in. Thus, it seems easier to understand the frustration felt when trying to quit smoking, and therefore nicotine.

The symptoms of withdrawal are the same as those of smoking.

The withdrawal symptoms appear and can last for several weeks, more or less intense depending on the sensitivity and level of addiction of each individual. Some of the main withdrawal symptoms include: irritability, nervousness, strong cravings, stress, anxiety, tremors, migraines, eating compulsions, and sleep disturbances.

The main symptoms of withdrawal are

How does CBD affect cravings

A 2013 study in London shed light on the effectiveness of CBD on nicotine addiction. For this experiment, 24 smokers were selected. Half received a placebo, while the other half received CBD. After one week of treatment, the study showed that the subjects who consumed CBD reduced their cigarette consumption by about 40%. Moreover, they did not suffer from the adverse effects of withdrawal. Conversely, smokers who received a placebo did not notice any improvement on their usual cigarette consumption.

Another study conducted in 2018 confirmed the effectiveness of CBD in smoking cessation. This time, the study aimed to prove CBD's anxiolytic properties, as well as its power to alter the attraction and uncontrollable urge to consume nicotine. By consuming CBD, the people subjected to this experiment were able to reduce their addiction without complaining about the effects of withdrawal.

How to consume CBD to quit smoking

Vaping and e-liquids

Most people who want to quit smoking turn to CBD flowers and resins that can be vaped, or e-liquids. This method keeps the sensation similar with a healthy and controlled smoke. The advantage is that the transition is smooth and there is less risk of relapse. This avoids the too abrupt stop that is often responsible for the failure of withdrawal attempts.

Note that some ready-to-use e-liquids contain a low dose of nicotine, which allows you to reduce consumption even more gradually, without any frustration.

CBD Oil

If you really want to quit smoking, and even the idea of vaping doesn't interest you, you can always consume CBD oil. The advantage of this format is that it can be consumed sublingually, which means pouring a few drops directly under the tongue.

CBD oil can also be added to your drinks and in your culinary preparations. In any case, this format allows you to enjoy the benefits of CBD in a simple and effective way. But above all, it helps you live your smoking cessation with peace of mind!