A Review of The Role of Mindfulness-based Interventions in the Treatment of Addiction

Authors

  • Lindsay Dragland Mount Royal University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/bsuj282

Keywords:

addiction, alcohol use, cognitive therapy, genetic predisposition, meditation, mindfulness, relapse, self-awareness, self-knowledge, stress reduction, substance use

Abstract

Mindfulness involves the nonjudgmental awareness and observation of one’s feelings, thoughts, and behaviours. Mindfulness-based interventions are becoming increasingly popular, as the growing body of research suggests promising implications regarding mindfulness as an approach to treat a wide variety of health problems. Specifically, mindfulness practices have been utilized in the treatment of addiction, and are shown to significantly reduce the relapse rate for individuals struggling with addiction. This paper reviews the research on mindfulness and addiction, describing the conceptualization and measurement of mindfulness, as well as various mindfulness-based interventions. An overview of addiction, including its determinants and treatments, is also provided. The relationship between mindfulness and addiction is examined and conclusions are drawn about the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions, how these interventions address the essential components of recovery, and the extent to which mindfulness may be utilized as a preventative measure.

Author Biography

Lindsay Dragland, Mount Royal University

BA, Psychology, MRU

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Published

2015-09-14

How to Cite

Dragland, L. (2015). A Review of The Role of Mindfulness-based Interventions in the Treatment of Addiction. Behavioural Sciences Undergraduate Journal, 2(1), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.29173/bsuj282