Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population.
Despite the availability of various substance abuse treatments, alcohol and drug misuse and related negative consequences remain prevalent. Vipassana meditation (VM), a Buddhist mindfulness-based practice, provides an alternative for individuals who do not wish to attend or have not succeeded with traditional addiction treatments. In this study, the authors evaluated the effectiveness of a VM course on substance use and psychosocial outcomes in an incarcerated population. Results indicate that after release from jail, participants in the VM course, as compared with those in a treatment-as-usual control condition, showed significant reductions in alcohol, marijuana, and crack cocaine use. VM participants showed decreases in alcohol-related problems and psychiatric symptoms as well as increases in positive psychosocial outcomes. The utility of mindfulness-based treatments for substance use is discussed.
Bowen
Sarah
S
Addictive Behaviors Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. swbowen@u.washington.edu
Witkiewitz
Katie
K
Dillworth
Tiara M
TM
Chawla
Neharika
N
Simpson
Tracy L
TL
Ostafin
Brian D
BD
Larimer
Mary E
ME
Blume
Arthur W
AW
Parks
George A
GA
Marlatt
G Alan
GA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019122:Meditation / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires