How Effective Are Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), Relapse Prevention, and Craving: An Umbrella Review Article.
Parvin Ajami Bakhtiarvand, Mohammad Reza Abedi
Substance Use & Misuse July 15, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2026.2699442 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Umbrella review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Interventions | Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement manualized treatment |
| Topics | Addiction Meditation |
| Keywords | Substance use disorders Craving reduction Meta-analysis Mindfulness-based interventions Relapse prevention Systematic review |
| Key findings | Mindfulness-based interventions provide preliminary support for reducing relapse and craving for alcohol, opioids, and stimulants. |
Abstract
Substance use disorders (SUDs) affect the lives of more than 35 million people worldwide, according to 2019 data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Current evidence suggests that MBIs may mitigate the harmful psychosocial effects associated with SUDs. Although MBIs have been extensively studied for efficacy, there remains a growing need to synthesize evidence from relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses to better understand their use in relapse prevention and craving reduction. This umbrella review aimed to assess the available evidence on the effectiveness of MBIs for SUD treatment, relapse prevention, and craving reduction. Following an extensive search of scientific databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science (last search: May 15, 2026), using keywords such as MBIs, SUDs, relapse, craving, addiction, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, 45 papers were initially identified. After removing duplicates and screening, 11 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were selected for inclusion. These 11 reviews, published between 2017 and 2026, were critically evaluated to assess the efficacy of MBIs for SUDs treatment, craving, and relapse prevention, to examine underlying mechanisms, and to compare intervention types. The results aligned with evidence that MBIs, including Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP), Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), and manualized treatment, provide preliminary support for reducing relapse (effect sizes: d = 0.45-0.78) and craving for alcohol, opioids, and stimulants (Hedges' g = 0.52-0.71). Neuroimaging findings revealed differences in activity in regions involved in craving and self-regulation, with convergent evidence from multiple reviews indicating increased prefrontal activation and reduced insular hyperactivity. The available evidence supports relapse prevention and craving reduction, although heterogeneity and study quality should be considered. Standardization of protocols and follow-up over prolonged periods is recommended to enable clinical application.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on addiction, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ketamine use: a review Ketamine users | 2011 | Systematic review | |
| Mindfulness Meditation for Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review Individuals with substance use disorders | 2009 | Systematic review | |
| Mindfulness-Based Interventions for the Treatment of Substance and Behavioral Addictions: A Systematic Review | 2018 | Systematic review | |
| Ketamine for the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders: comprehensive systematic review | 2021 | Systematic review | |
| Therapeutic Use of LSD in Psychiatry: A Systematic Review of Randomized-Controlled Clinical Trials Patients with psychiatric disorders, primarily alcoholism | 2020 | Systematic review | n = 567 |
Citations in the library
Cites 8
- Mindfulness meditation and substance use in an incarcerated population. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors August 28, 2006
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for the Treatment of Substance and Behavioral Addictions: A Systematic Review Frontiers in Psychiatry March 29, 2018
- Mindfulness-based programs for substance use disorders: a systematic review of manualized treatments Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy July 29, 2020
- Restructuring reward processing with Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement: novel therapeutic mechanisms to remediate hedonic dysregulation in addiction, stress, and pain. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences April 1, 2016
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Adolescent Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review. Pediatrics February 1, 2026
and 3 more in the library