Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Opioid Use

Mindfulness-based interventions for substance use are often used in combination with other treatments. For patients with opioid use disorder, it should only be used in combination with medication.

Evidence for the intervention

Evidence for mindfulness-based interventions for persons with substance use disorders comes from multiple randomized control trials, which have been summarized in systematic reviews and meta-analyses; in these trials, the interventions are typically delivered by highly trained research staff. The evidence for mindfulness-based interventions for persons with opioid use disorder primarily comes from studies testing it as an adjunctive intervention, as delivered by highly trained clinicians. Studies consistently find that mindfulness-based interventions help reduce alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, and opioid use when delivered by highly trained clinicians and when delivered in combination with medication for opioid use disorder. There is limited evidence for its use when delivered by front-line clinicians in busy clinical settings, and no data supporting its use as a stand-alone treatment for opioid use disorder.

Evidence-based Scale

Mindfulness-based interventions for substance use have been tested in combination with suboxone, contingency management, chronic pain treatment, and health education programs. They have also been tested with a combination of contingency management and health education for people with stimulant use disorder. For patients with opioid use disorder, the current data only supports using mindfulness-based interventions in combination with medications like methadone and buprenorphine and not as a standalone treatment.