Meditation May Improve Drinking and Substance Abuse Behaviors in Active Military Personnel

Meditation may help improve drinking and substance abuse behaviors in active duty service personnel undergoing treatment in a residential program, according to results from a small study reported at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 2010 Annual Meeting.

"Using mindfulness-based, breath-centered meditation may be a helpful treatment modality for service members who wish to recover from substance dependence or abuse," said lead investigator Amy Canuso, DO, from the Department of Psychiatry at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California, during her presentation.

"I would tell clinicians that this is an option that should be explored," Dr. Canuso told Medscape Psychiatry. "I would consider including it in therapeutic programs at facilities and into therapeutic practice. Substance abuse treatment should really be a team effort with a multidisciplined approach."

"We all want to encourage healthy living techniques, and this might just be an important piece to the puzzle," she added. (MORE)

Source: Medscape