Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A Brief History of Mindfulness in Addictions Treatment

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The article is a literature review of the development of mindfulness practices in the treatment of substance use disorders, with attention to the roots of mindfulness studies in the West and in Buddhist traditions. There is a focus on substance use disorders, but also consideration is given to wider dynamics of human suffering and the effectiveness of mindfulness practices.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84, 191–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, S., & Vieten, C. (2012). A compassionate approach to the treatment of addictive behaviors: the contributions of Alan Marlatt to the field of mindfulness-based interventions. Addiction Research and Theory, 20(3), 243–249. https://doi.org/10.3109/16066359.2011.647132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, S., Chawla, N., Collins, S. E., Witkiewittz, K., Hsu, S., Grow, J., & Marlatt, A. (2014). Mindfulness-based relapse prevention for substance use disorders: a pilot efficacy trial. Substance Abuse, 30, 295–305. https://doi.org/10.1080/08897070903250084.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer, J. A., Bowen, S., Smith, J. T., Marlatt, G. A., & Potenza, M. N. (2010). Mindfulness-based treatments for co-occurring depression and substance use disorders: what can we learn from the brain? Addiction, 105, 1698–1706. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02890.x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer, J. A., Elwafi, H. M., & Davis, J. H. (2013). Craving to quit: psychological models and neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness training as treatment for addictions. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(2), 366–379. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0028490.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carmody, J., & Baer, R. A. (2009). How long does a mindfulness-based stress reduction program need to be? A review of class contact hours and effect sizes for psychological distress. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(6), 627–638. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20555.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chopra, D. (1997). Overcoming addictions: The spiritual solution. New York: Harmony Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corey, G. (1991). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Belmont: Wadsworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Wit, H. F. (1986). On contemplative psychology. In J. A. Van Belzen & J. M. Van der Lans (Eds.), Current issues in the psychology of religion (pp. 82–89). Amsterdam: Rodopi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Didonna, F. (2009). Mindfulness and obsessive-compulsive disorder: Developing a way to trust and validate one's internal experience. In F. Didonna (Ed.), Clinical handbook of mindfulness. New York: Springer Science + Business Media.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Dryden, W., & Still, A. (2006). Historical aspects of mindfulness and self-acceptance in psychotherapy. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 24(1).

  • Felder, J. N., Dimidjian, S., & Segal, Z. (2012). Collaboration in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session, 68(2), 179–186. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21832.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goldberg, S. B., Davis, J. M., & Hoyt, W. T. (2013). The role of therapeutic alliance in mindfulness interventions: therapeutic alliance in mindfulness training for smokers. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(90), 936–950. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21973.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greeson, J. M., Webber, D. M., Smoski, M. J., Brantley, J. G., Ekblad, A. G., Suarez, E. C., & Wolever, R. Q. (2011). Changes in spirituality partly explain health-related quality of life outcomes after mindfulness-based stress reduction. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 34, 508–518. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-011-9332-x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Grof, C. (1993). The thirst for wholeness: Attachment, addiction, and the spiritual path. New York: HarperCollins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huxley, A. (1952). The doors of perception: Heaven and hell. London: Thinking Ink Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (1990). Full catastrophe living. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. New York: Hyperion.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, S. M. (2002). An introduction to Buddhism for the cognitive-behavioral therapist. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 9, 40–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marlatt, G. A. (2002). Buddhist philosophy and the treatment of addictive behavior. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 9, 44–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, W. R. (1998). Researching the spiritual dimension of alcohol and other drug problems. Addiction, 93(7), 979–990.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mindfulnet.org (2016). Research on mindfulness. Retrieved from the internet: http://www.mindfulnet.org/page4.htm. Accessed 21 May 2016.

  • Nixon, G. (2001). Using Wilbur’s transpersonal model of psychological and spiritual growth in alcoholism treatment. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 19(10), 79–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Northwest Vipassana Center (2016). Vipassana meditation. Retrieved from the Internet: https://www.dhamma.org/en/about/vipassana. Accessed 15 Jun 2016.

  • Ostafin, B. D., Bauer, C., & Myxter, P. (2012). Mindfulness decouples the relation between automatic alcohol motivation and heavy drinking. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 31(7), 729–745.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostafin, B. D., Kassman, K. T., & Wessel, I. (2013). Breaking the cycle of desire: mindfulness and executive control weaken the relation between an implicit measure of alcohol valence and preoccupation with alcohol-related thoughts. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(4), 1153–1158. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032621.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rahula, R. (1959). What the Buddha taught. New York: Grove Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • SAMHSA (2014). National Survey on drug use and mental health disorders. Retrieved from the Internet: https://www.samhsa.gov/disorders. Accessed 10 Sept 2016.

  • Saraswati, S.N. (1999). Attachment and non-attachment. Yoga. Retrieved from the Internet: http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1999/fnov99/anda.shtml. Accessed 20 Feb 2017.

  • Teasdale, J. D., Williams, J. M. G., Soulsby, J. M., Segal, Z. V., Ridgeway, V. A., & Lau, M. A. (2000). Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(4), 615–623.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vilardaga, R., Luoma, J. B., Hayes, S. C., Pistorello, J., Levin, M. E., Hildebrandt, M. J., Kohlenberg, B., Roget, N. A., & Bond, F. (2011). Burnout among the addictions counselor workforce: the differential roles of mindfulness and values-based processes and worksite factors. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 40, 323–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2010.11.015.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Witkiewittz, K., Marlatt, G. A., & Walker, D. (2005). Mindfulness-based relapse prevention for alcohol and substance use disorders. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 19(3), 211–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witkiewittz, K., Lustyk, M. K. B., & Bowen, S. (2013). Retraining the addicted brain: a review of hypothesized neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness-based relapse prevention. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 27(2), 351–365. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witkiewitz, K., & Marlatt, G. A. (2004). Relapse prevention for alcohol and drug problems. American Psychologist, 59(4), 224–235. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.59.4.224.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mindful Therapy PDX, Portland, OR, USA

    Ronald Lee Lloyd Johnson

Authors
  1. Ronald Lee Lloyd Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ronald Lee Lloyd Johnson.

Ethics declarations

In general this paper has no conflicts of interest, especially regarding financing or funding or committee memberships, etc. However, Dr. Gary Tzu, who is mentioned in the paper briefly regarding his research on addictions and nondual thought, provided around six sessions of supervision to the author earlier in his counseling career.

This paper is comprised solely of publications research and does not involve any human or animal subjects other than those figuring in previous original studies. All studies were peer-reviewed and subject to ethical considerations. This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

No informed consent was necessary, as this study did not utilize human research participants.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Johnson, R.L.L. A Brief History of Mindfulness in Addictions Treatment. Int J Adv Counselling 41, 284–295 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-019-09372-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-019-09372-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation