Addicted To Opioids? This 8-Week Brain Training Could Be The Answer (Image Credits: iStock)
Could sitting quietly and focusing on the present moment really help break free from opioid addiction? According to a new study, the answer is yes. Mindfulness meditation, when practised consistently, may actually help rewire the brain and significantly reduce drug cravings in people addicted to opioids.
The research, published on April 30 in JAMA Psychiatry, shows that people who took part in mindfulness training reported 50 per cent fewer opioid cravings than those who received standard group therapy. That’s a major breakthrough, say experts.
“Opioid addiction dulls the brain’s ability to feel natural pleasure, which only intensifies the desire for the drug,” explained lead author Eric Garland, a psychiatry professor at the University of California-San Diego. “Our research shows mindfulness training can help restore this ability, reducing cravings and possibly even preventing misuse.”
The study followed 160 participants, all of whom were managing chronic pain and had been using opioids for close to 10 years. About 61% had developed an opioid use disorder. Half of the participants were enrolled in an eight-week program called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE). This program blends mindfulness techniques with cognitive behavioural therapy and positive psychology—focusing not just on addiction, but also on emotional well-being and pain relief.
So how does it work? Mindfulness meditation encourages individuals to slow down, observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, and then let them pass. While that may sound simple, the effects can be powerful.
At the beginning of the study, many participants had a muted emotional response to positive images—like babies smiling or puppies playing. This lack of emotional reaction was tied to stronger opioid cravings. But after participating in MORE, brain scans showed that these individuals began responding more positively to feel-good images—and their cravings declined as a result.
What’s more, this isn’t the first time the MORE program has shown promise. A previous clinical trial published in JAMA Internal Medicine in 2022 found the approach cut opioid misuse by 45 per cent within nine months—nearly triple the impact of conventional group therapy.
Beyond the emotional and health benefits, there’s a strong economic case too. “For every dollar invested in MORE therapy, society saves nearly $800 in overdose prevention, lower healthcare costs, reduced criminal activity, and improved workplace productivity,” said Garland.
He emphasizes that while this is a promising step forward, more large-scale studies are needed. “Now is the time to work with policymakers and healthcare systems to make evidence-based programs like MORE widely available and help combat the opioid crisis.”
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