Immediate Past President, International Society of Addiction Medicine, Past President, New York Society of Addiction Medicine, Medical Director, Samaritan Daytop Village, Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, 550 First Ave., New York, NY 10016 USA.
Abstract
CBD for Treating Neuropsychiatric Complications of COVID-19 and Role of Addiction Physician
The world is facing one of the most devastating viral pandemics of our time where about 215 million people have been infected with a novel corona virus- known as severe acute respiratory syndrome cornonavirus-2 (SARS-Cov2), and more than 4.8 million people have died from the corona virus induced disease (COVID-19).1 The COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for unprecedented loss of life, economic, social, and health consequences including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), cardiovascular, mental health including anxiety, depression, and neurological complications like tremors, seizures and impaired consciousness.2
Most recently, Volkow’s group3 recently reported that people with SUDs are at heightened risk of acquiring SARS-Cov2 infection. They suffer not only from SARS-Cov2 related health consequences including ‘long-haul’ effects, but also when they are infected with other multiple viral infections including HIV and HCV. Extensive efforts are underway to develop preventive vaccines and therapeutics such as remdesivir, dexamethasone, convalescent plasma, and others to treat COVID-19 but many ‘long-haulers’ patients report residual mental health and other problems after recovery.4,5 Cannabis and its products such as cannabidiol (CBD) are being advertised for the treatment of COVID-19 associated mental health problems, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorders. In this presentation, Dr. Khalsa will discuss the health effects of COVID-19, and whether there is sufficient clinical evidence to support the use of cannabis/cannabinoids for treating COVID-19 related health effects6, and if time permits, the current research on CBD for treating substance use disorders; and Dr. Bunt will discuss the role of addiction physicians in dealing with patients with SUDs requesting cannabis or CBD prescription for any of the COVID-19 health effects.