A UK company has teamed up with a French firm to run a study that would hopefully help to treat cannabis use disorder in the future.
Bloomberg reports that Indivior Plc, a UK-based company that makes drugs for opioid addiction, and the French biotech firm Aelis Farma will assess a therapy that aims to help cannabis addicts.
The business paper says more and more companies are choosing to do research around cannabis use disorder as the area is still something only a few have proper knowledge of.
Although according to a recent study published by The National Institute on Drug Abuse, 9% to 30% of cannabis users get addicted at some point, it is reported that there no drugs have yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for cannabis use disorder treatment.
Bloomberg quotes Indivior’s Chief Executive Officer Mark Crossley saying: “Cannabis is the most common substance of abuse besides alcohol and tobacco, and there is no FDA-approved drug, which is concerning when you look at where cannabis use, in general, is headed.”
The scientific proof that people who consume cannabis every day can actually be dependent on the drug seems to be rather convincing.
Another study concluded that cannabis withdrawal symptoms “resemble” other drugs, such as tobacco; however, as they are considered to be mild compared to other drugs, they don’t include any major medical or psychiatric consequences.
On the other hand, it doesn’t mean it’s pleasant – pain and “anguish” have been associated with cannabis withdrawal.
Heavy-users often report numerous issues, such as mood and sleep difficulties, decreased appetite, cravings and restlessness, which usually peak within the first week after quitting and last up to two weeks.
Marvin D. Seppala, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, said: “Most people can use marijuana without becoming addicted, and most who use occasionally will not suffer harmful effects.
“Still, it is important to know the risks, especially considering the new forms and tremendously high levels of THC available to users. The higher the potency of the drug consumed, the higher the likelihood of addiction, and the higher the likelihood of adverse side effects.
“It is also important to recognize that marijuana has several hundred ingredients, many of which we know very little about. With new research, more information will be coming to help us understand both the good and bad effects of marijuana in all of its forms.”
