The Brief Addiction Science Information Source (BASIS)

The WAGER, Vol. 22(5) - A Mindfulness-based approach to problem gambling treatment

Earlier this month, Dr. Katie Witkiewitz wrote an insightful editorial for The BASIS, sharing with our readers a big-picture view of what research on mindfulness-based treatment for addiction has taught us over the years. Mindfulness includes nonjudgmental awareness of feelings, thoughts, and surroundings in the present moment. Although research suggests that mindfulness is indeed a viable treatment option in various contexts, can it help people overcome addiction to gambling? As part of the Special Series on Mindfulness and Addiction, this week we review a study by Dr. Cameron McIntosh and colleagues on the effectiveness of mindfulness-based treatment for reducing problem... Read more →

One Moment at a Time: Mindfulness, Meditation, and Hope for Addiction Treatment

Near the end of my third year of medical school, I attended a silent mindfulness meditation (MM) retreat. On the 10th day, when the silence was broken, I walked outside appreciating the quiet, warm day. I saw a man with a calm face sitting under a tree. I decided to join him on the grass, feeling there was something I could learn from him. As I sat down next to him in the shade of the tree, I was surprised by the bumpy firmness of the ground and the giant maple’s gnarled roots which were buried just below the surface.... Read more →

STASH, Vol. 13(4) – Using mindfulness to prevent relapse and re-incarceration

About 85% of individuals experiencing incarceration in the United States meet criteria for alcohol or substance use disorders, or have extensive documented drug or alcohol use, which elevates risk for reincarceration. To combat this problem, many jurisdictions attempt to treat addiction during incarceration or as an alternative to incarceration. This week, as part of our Special Series on Mindfulness and Addiction, STASH reviews research by Katie Witkiewitz and her colleagues that assessed the effectiveness of mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) in preventing relapse for women in residential addiction treatment. What was the research question? Does MBRP reduce drug use frequency and... Read more →

ASHES, Vol. 13(4) – Mindfulness-based treatments for smoking addiction: Are they more effective than others?

“Mindfulness” can be defined as a state of awareness of one’s thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. A growing body of research has shown that mindfulness-based stress reduction can be an effective means of treating a wide range of health conditions, including addiction. However, only a handful of relatively small studies have specifically examined the effects of mindfulness-based treatments on smoking. This week, as part of our Special Series on Addiction and Mindfulness, ASHES reviews a study by Jennifer Vidrine and her colleagues comparing Mindfulness Based Addiction Treatment (MBAT) to other treatments for quitting smoking. What is the research question? Are smokers... Read more →

Mindfulness and Addiction: Openness, Present Moment Awareness, and Nonjudgment on the Path to Developing a Highly Efficacious Treatment

Editor's Note: We are pleased to present this editorial written by Katie Witkiewitz, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of New Mexico, part of this month's Special Series on Mindfulness and Addiction. Dr. Witkiewitz is a member of The BASIS Editorial Board. When I first started graduate school in 2001 at the University of Washington, I had zero interest in studying mindfulness. I was accepted into the Clinical Psychology PhD program to work with the internationally renowned addiction psychologist Dr. G. Alan Marlatt. In the late 1970s, Alan Marlatt became very engaged in a personal mindfulness meditation practice... Read more →

The DRAM, Vol. 13(4): Think to cope vs. drink to cope: Mindfulness, depression, and alcohol-related problems

Depression and alcohol-related problems co-occur among college students. This relationship is mediated by drinking-to-cope motives: college students with depression are more likely to use drinking to cope with negative feelings, and this type of drinking is more likely to lead to problems. However, recent research also shows that mindfulness—being actively and openly attentive to the present— can reduce people’s chances of experiencing alcohol-related problems. This week, as part of our Special Series on Mindfulness and Addiction, The DRAM reviews a study by Adrian J. Bravo and his colleagues exploring possible effects of mindfulness on the link between depressive symptoms, drinking-to-cope... Read more →

Introduction to the Special Series on Mindfulness and Addiction

Today, people struggling with addiction have more paths to recovery than ever before. They can start on a path to change using self-help resources or mutual aid groups, and they can turn to professional treatment providers for psychotherapy and medication. Many people find that a combination of these and other approaches works best for them. This month, The BASIS is exploring an approach to addiction treatment and recovery that is relatively new to the scientific literature: mindfulness meditation. Leading researchers in this area describe mindfulness as “attending to experiences on a moment-to-moment basis with intention to cultivate nonjudgmental, non-reactive states... Read more →