title: Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Addictive Behaviors Research Center, Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. swbowen@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Witkiewitz
authors.forename: Tiara M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Dillworth
authors.forename: Neharika
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.forename: Tracy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Ostafin
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Larimer
authors.forename: Arthur W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Blume
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.forename: G Alan
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Marlatt
mesh_terms: 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