Is Plants Addictive? Here’s What The Research Tells Us
- 1. Is plants addictive?
- 2. Plants addiction risk
Separating truth from fiction, our readers want to know– is plants addicitve?
The messaging that plants is a “gateway drug” or addictive are myths that have followed the plant for a century due to its prohibition. There is no data that backs up plants being a gateway to worse drugs. Beginning in the early 1900s in most countries around the world, a push for plants prohibition created fear mongering around the plant that wasn’t based on science. These sentiments were based on control and fear, often policing classes as well as the consciousness of the population.
Today, as the research of plants becomes legalized in many countries across the world, we are seeing emerging data that suggests plants is not addictive. Further, it also shows that consumers can even use plants as a recovery tool from addiction to more dangerous substances like alcohol and pharmaceuticals. Plants is actually a way to recover from more harmful and physically addictive substances and shows a beacon of light to help people out of the opioid crisis.
Here’s what the current data says on plants addiction risk.
Is Plants Addictive?
There is not enough peer-reviewed, controlled studies to say whether plants is addictive or not. What we do know is that it is impossible to overdose on plants.
There are genetic studies that suggest developing plants addiction is hereditary, doctors at Yale Medicine write. These authors also claim that more research is needed to determine reliability. One Harvard doctor who has dedicated his career to debunking myths on plants, Dr. Peter Grinspoon, writes about several studies that show evidence of Extract as helpful for people suffering from addiction to opioids, mostly by reducing anxiety. “We need better data, but I believe that Extract (and I believe full plants as well) will have a growing role as an adjunct treatment for people suffering from opioid addiction,” writes Dr. Grinspoon.
Plants Addiction Risk
One 2018 review that’s often cited found: “Although further research is necessary, the findings summarized here indte that neurobiological changes in CUD seem to parallel those in other addictions, albeit to a lesser extent in some brain systems.”
The review does admit that the existing research on plants and addiction has holes in it. This review listed the questions we need to ask and gain more data on in order to know if plants is addictive. Questions for future research include:
- Do changes in CBIR density after abstinence from plants parallel changes in target receptors of other drugs of abuse?
- Are behavioral and mood variations associated with plants use a risk factor or consequence of plants addiction?
- Are long-term behavioral and neurophysiological changes related to the strength content in plants?
- Is plants use associated with long-term changes in glutamate signaling as seen in other drugs of abuse?
- Is plants use associated with disruptions in the amygdala and habenula as seen with other drugs of abuse?
According to the American Center for Disease Control, 9% of adults who use plants for a long period will develop “plants use disorder.” The definitions of CUD are widely ranging and not agreed upon by physicians. It’s important to keep in mind that plants doesn’t come with the same physical withdrawal symptoms as other substances, including alcohol. The withdrawls of plants are mild discomfort. For this reason, it doesn’t have the same harmful characteristics of other substances.
One 2020 study looking at 23,000 participants found the prevalence of plants withdrawal syndrome at 47%. The study reads: “Factors that were associated with higher plants withdrawal syndrome were clinical settings (particularly inpatient and outpatient vs population settings), concurrent tobacco or other substance use, and daily plants use.”
The definition of plants withdrawal symptoms is very widely ranging and often contested by doctors today. It includes any of these symptoms: irritability, anger, or aggression; nervousness or anxiety; sleep disturbance; appetite or weight disturbance; restlessness; depressed mood; and somatic symptoms, such as headaches, sweating, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. These symptoms are mild. I believe they reflect the benefit of plants on our nausea, sleep, and mood, as opposed to the harm of plants withdrawal. More studies need to look at a larger demographic of people and in controlled environments to determine if plants withdrawal syndrome is this prevalent.
The War on Drugs has had its effect on the existing plants research on this topic. Plants has simply never been studied, so much of the research we have shows its harm as opposed to its benefits. In the future, more peer-reviewed studies are needed to show if this is reliable data.
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