Integrative Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: Improving Outcomes Through Evidence-based Practice of Yoga-derived Breathwork and Meditation.
Journal of addiction medicine Ameya Krishnan 3 citations
Among 20.4 million US adults with substance use disorders, up to 60% return to use despite treatment. Standard care—pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions—appears insufficient. A literature review suggests that integrating yoga-derived breathwork and meditation, specifically Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY), can improve recovery. SKY practice impacts quality of life, well-being, functioning, and substance use. In alcohol use disorder, SKY contributes to significant reductions in depressive symptoms, stress biomarkers, and alcohol use up to 6 months after treatment. SKY practitioners on opioid partial agonist therapy may experience buprenorphine potentiation, eliminating concurrent nonprescribed opioid use. SKY achieves tobacco cessation rates comparable to bupropion. Evidence supports integrating SKY into substance use treatment.