CBD For The Elderly

According to a survey conducted by the Society for the Study of Addiction, seniors are the fastest growing demographic of CBD consumers. Between the years of 2006 and 2013, there was a 250 percent increase in CBD use for those ages 65 and up.

Many seniors are turning to CBD for it’s therapeutic properties. In fact, senior citizens are the fastest growing demographic of cannabis users according to studies. In just 8 years, senior citizen cannabis use jumped by more than 250 percent. Because CBD oils can help with issues like pain relief, inflammation, sleep, and appetite, CBD is the ideal supplement to help keep elderly people living their best life.

CBD oils for seniors not only have the benefit of helping to improve quality of life, but one recent study  of more than 2,700 senior patients found that the use of cannabis is “safe and efficacious in the elderly population.” Because it’s nearly impossible to overdose on CBD oils they can be a much safer alternative to traditional treatments. The same study found that, “cannabis use may decrease the use of other prescription medicines, including opioids.” And perhaps the most interesting finding of the study itself was that over 18 percent of participants stopped using opioids altogether after starting a CBD oil regiment.

So why aren’t more senior citizens adding CBD oils and extracts into their daily health plan?

One of the biggest concerns for senior citizens is the fear of getting high. There hasn’t been widespread education efforts on the effects of cannabis and specifically CBD use in the elderly community. So for many senior citizens, they are forced to rely on old stigma’s and misinformation about cannabinoids and what they do. Most senior citizens don’t understand that CBD extracts do not contain significant levels of THC and therefore aren’t intoxicating. They also believe that you have to smoke cannabis to get the benefits of CBD, something they do not want to do.

Because CBD is extracted from the hemp plant, seniors can take advantage of the medical benefits of cannabinoids without the side effects associated with marijuana. Additionally, they have the ability to administer CBD to their bodies in more convenient forms such as creams and tinctures, rather than inhaling smoke. Because CBD is an oil extract that can be purchased in tincture form, it can be added to things like topical gels and edible products, and can even be combined with the individuals preferred choice of lotion or cream for topical use making it easy for senior citizens to apply.

Getting older is unavoidable, but the elderly don’t have to live their golden years in constant pain or suffering. CBD has shown to be an effective supplement that has helped countless senior citizens continue to live happy and healthy lives. Many elderly have found a second lease on life after discovering CBD oils. So the next time your grandma or grandpa complains that her bones ache or he/she is struggling with loss of appetite, ask if they have tried CBD, and recommend they start a conversation about CBD with their doctor.