title: Low dispositional mindfulness predicts self-medication of negative emotion with prescription opioids.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although evidence is mounting that opioids are abused to self-medicate negative emotions, little is known about the traits and factors linked to opioid self-medication. One potentially crucial psychological correlate is dispositional mindfulness. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of opioid self-medication among a treatment-seeking sample of prescription opioid-dependent individuals and specifically examine the relationship between dispositional mindfulness and opioid self-medication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in acute detoxification or intensive outpatient treatment for prescription opioid dependence (n = 79) were recruited from a regional hospital's addictions treatment unit for this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic data were collected along with surveys of opioid self-medication, pain level, and dispositional mindfulness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-medication of negative affective states with opioids was quite common, with 94.9% of individuals sampled reporting self-medication behaviors. In adjusted analyses, individuals engaging in more frequent opioid use tended to self-medicate negative emotions with opioids more often than those engaging in more intermittent opioid use (β = 0.33; P < 0.05). Importantly, irrespective of opioid use frequency and other clinical and sociodemographic covariates, dispositional mindfulness was inversely associated with opioid self-medication (β = -0.42; P < 0.001), such that less mindful individuals reported using opioids more frequently to self-medicate negative emotions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-medication of negative emotions with opioids was prevalent in this sample and related to low dispositional mindfulness. Plausibly, increasing mindfulness may decrease opioid self-medication. Addictive automaticity and emotion regulation are discussed as potential mechanisms linking low dispositional mindfulness and self-medication.
authors.affiliation: From the University of Utah (ELG, EAT), Salt Lake City, UT; Florida State University (AWH), Tallahassee, FL; and Tallahassee Memorial Hospital Recovery Center (PK, JF), Tallahassee, FL.
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Garland
authors.forename: Adam W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knoll
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferraro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064866:Mindfulness; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012651:Self Medication / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid