50% of Millennials in UK Prefer CBD Oil for Mental Health Over Prescription Drugs

A new study in the United Kingdom has revealed that a growing number of adults are seeking alternatives to traditional prescription pharmaceutical-based mental health treatments and are seeking cannabidiol (CBD) oil as a viable alternative.

The research by private chemical testing and analysis company Eos Scientific shows that around 15 million adults in the U.K. are wary about seeking prescription drugs for their mental health disorders, mainly out of a concern over the pharmaceutical drugs’ negative side effects, potency, or overly general approach to their specific symptoms.

CBD oil, however, is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid found in cannabis plants that is not only safe and non-addictive, but has also shown a remarkable ability in a range of studies to aid users in treating anxiety-related disorders such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia, mild to moderate depression, generalized anxiety disorder and mild to moderate depression.

Eos Scientific CEO Simon Manthorpe explained:

“CBD works by affecting the endocannabinoid system and, while further research is still ongoing into the long-term benefits of using CBD to treat anxiety, initial studies suggest that CBD oil has anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects.”

Indeed, while millions of people suffering from mental health disorders like anxiety and depression treat their disorders with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Zoloft and Prozac or a range of benzodiazepines such as Xanax or Valium, there has been a growing awareness of the highly addictive nature of these drugs and their side effects.

According to Eos Scientific’s research, 30 percent of Brits–or roughly 15 million U.K. residents–are unsure about whether they should seek treatment for their mental health issues due to a concern that they may be prescribed drugs that would be too strong for their symptoms. This includes nearly half, or 47 percent, of U.K. residents aged 18-34.

Holistic remedies are also seen as a more desirable treatment for mental health for 24 percent of Brits, representing 11.3 million people, of whom 35 percent belong to the 18-to-34-year-old “millenial” demographic.

And for 38 percent of Brits–a number representing 17.5 million people–CBD oil is seen as a more desirable means to manage their mental health. That number represents about 50 percent of millenials aged 18 to 34.

Manthorpe continued:

“The number of UK users of CBD oil has almost doubled in the last year, with many claiming the cannabis-based products are a more natural and easily accessible way to manage their mental health.

While prescribed medicine will always be the recommendation of medical professionals, we are seeing increasing numbers of people turning to more alternative remedies, not just for their mental health but for any number of ailments.”

In addition to its use as a remedy for mental health disorders, CBD has also been shown to treat a range of physical problems including arthritis, chronic pain, and aching muscles. It is also being used with increased frequency to relieve the pain associated with cancer and cancer treatment, as well as in the direct treatment of cancer itself.

CBD is currently being introduced to the public in a dazzling array of consumer products including vaporizers, creams and lotions, tinctures, jelly beans, and even such common edible treats as Carls Jr. hamburgers. Even Coca-Cola has explored jumping on the bandwagon in an attempt to probe how best to take advantage of the growing interest in CBD.