CBD for Opiate Withdrawal? FDA Approves Trials for CBD Based Treatment

The ravages of opiate overdoses and deaths is a constantly evolving tragedy in the US that shows no signs of slowing. 

A Colorado pharmaceutical company is now beginning clinical trials for a drug that uses CBD for opiate withdrawal.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Ananda Scientific approval to begin human trials on a CBD based drug to treat opiate addictions called Nantheia ATL5.

Using cannabidiol (CBD) for opiate addiction holds some promise as being a viable treatment.

The clinical trials will determine if theraputic CBD decreases opioid cravings

The FDA has given Ananda Scientific an "investigational drug designation." This is the first step in FDA testing. It determines if the drug is safe for humans and achieves some effectiveness and merits further development.

This means that Nantheia ATL5 is not going to be available to treat opiate addiction anytime soon. The approval process can take years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control 500,000 people in the US died of opiate overdose since 1999. 

The CDC says in 2013 a new a wave of opiate deaths began with the introduction of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.

“The approval of the IND for this important clinical trial is a key milestone for our ongoing research into therapeutic alternatives for opioid use disorder and reversal of the effects of the opioid epidemic,” said Dr. Edthye London, Ph.D, Ananda Scientific.