Cannabinoid and opioid interactions: implications for opiate dependence and withdrawal

Key Findings

Withdrawal from opiates, such as heroin or oral narcotics, is characterized by a host of aversive physical and emotional symptoms. Research over the past decade has shed light on the influence of endocannabinoids on the opioid system. Evidence from both animal and clinical studies point towards an interaction between these two systems, and suggest that targeting the endocannabinoid system may provide novel interventions for managing opiate dependence and withdrawal. The findings from basic and pre-clinical studies in rodent models highlight several potential mechanisms through which cannabinoids may modulate the phenomenon of opioid withdrawal, and call attention to the importance of cannabinoid-opioid interactions within noradrenergic brain circuits such as the coeruleo-cortical pathway.