A Vipassana meditation course given in jail led to significant reductions in alcohol, marijuana, and crack cocaine use after release, compared to standard treatment. Participants also experienced fewer alcohol-related problems and psychiatric symptoms, along with improvements in positive psychosocial outcomes. The findings suggest mindfulness-based practices offer a viable alternative for individuals who have not succeeded with or do not wish to attend traditional addiction treatments.
A 12-week course of loving-kindness meditation for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder was associated with lasting improvements in positive emotions and personal resources. Unactivated pleasant emotions increased significantly, while both activated and unactivated unpleasant emotions decreased. At a 3-month follow-up, veterans showed gains in environmental mastery, personal growth, purpose in life, self-acceptance, and decentering. The findings suggest that loving-kindness meditation may help broaden positive emotions and build psychological resources in this population, warranting further investigation.