The problem is stigma
As television news reporter, I have spoken to many people who have lost loved ones to opioid overdose. I have interviewed recovering addicts who recount the moments where they almost died. Plenty of heartbroken and brave individuals channel these hurts to raise awareness of this painful epidemic. There are solutions.
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Today I watched a Ted Talk by Yasmin Hurd that posed the question “Could CBD help opioid users overcome addiction?”. In this video, Hurd describes research that has shown CBD could help reduce drug cravings and anxiety in individuals battling opioid addiction. Yet there has not been enough study on CBD to get the ball rolling on a safe and successful treatment that can help addicts.
The problem is stigma. Hurd makes this point by reminding the audience you can slather on lotion with CBD, you can drink it in your tea, you can even feed it to your pets, but so far little has been done to utilize CBD to solve a problem that’s killing thousands. Hurd addresses stigma in a way that allows the viewer to come to this conclusion on their own.
I encourage others to watch this video because it will leave you with questions of your own. If a possible miracle drug has been identified, why aren’t stakeholders doing more with this information? Why haven’t there been enough large clinical trials? If treating addiction requires thoughtful and skillful approach, why aren’t doctors and drug companies working on that? If research takes money, why isn’t anyone funding it?
