It’s a quick 10-minute practice.
A recent study has found that mindfulness meditation may significantly reduce opioid cravings by altering brain function in individuals struggling with addiction. The research, published in JAMA Psychiatry, discovered that participants who underwent mindfulness training reported 50% fewer cravings compared to those who participated in traditional support group therapy.
Eric Garland, a psychiatry professor at the University of California-San Diego and the study’s lead author, explained that opioid dependence impairs the brain’s ability to feel pleasure from natural sources, intensifying the desire for the drug. According to Garland, mindfulness-based practices can help reverse this effect by restoring the brain’s response to positive experiences, thereby decreasing the urge to use opioids.
The study involved 160 individuals coping with chronic pain and long-term opioid use—more than half of whom had developed an opioid use disorder. Participants were randomly divided, with one group receiving eight weeks of treatment through the Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE) program. This approach incorporates mindfulness techniques, cognitive behavioral strategies, and elements of positive psychology to help individuals manage pain, emotional challenges, and addiction.
Researchers observed that those in the mindfulness program initially had muted reactions to pleasant images, such as smiling faces or natural scenes—an emotional dampening associated with increased drug cravings. After completing the MORE program, participants showed improved emotional responses to positive stimuli, which was directly linked to reduced craving levels.
Previous trials also support these findings. An earlier study published in JAMA Internal Medicine revealed that the MORE program led to a 45% reduction in opioid misuse within nine months, outperforming standard therapy. Garland emphasized the need for broader implementation of such treatments, noting the substantial economic and social benefits of mindfulness-based therapy, including reduced overdose deaths and increased productivity.
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