A pilot study tested a modified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program as a smoking cessation intervention. Eighteen participants attended weekly mindfulness sessions and attempted to quit smoking in week seven without medication. Six weeks after the quit day, 56% (10 of 18) had biologically confirmed seven-day smoking abstinence. Greater meditation practice was linked to higher abstinence rates and lower stress and emotional distress. The findings suggest mindfulness training may help with smoking cessation and merits further research in a larger controlled trial.
Meditation shows promise as an additional therapy to help prevent relapse in people recovering from alcohol dependence. In a 16-week study of 19 adults who had completed an intensive outpatient program, 15 completed an 8-week meditation course plus home practice and standard care. On average, participants meditated about 4.6 days per week and were abstinent on 94.5% of study days; 47% remained completely abstinent, while 47% had at least one heavy drinking day. Depression, anxiety, stress, and craving decreased, and mindfulness increased. Participants rated the course highly as a relapse prevention tool. A biomarker of inflammation, interleukin-6, also decreased. No adverse events occurred.