Integrative Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: Improving Outcomes Through Evidence-based Practice of Yoga-derived Breathwork and Meditation.

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Among 20.4 million US adults diagnosed with substance use disorders (SUDs), up to 60% return to use despite treatment or attempted abstinence. Standard care for SUDs is pharmacotherapy and/or behavioral interventions in either an inpatient or outpatient setting. Both national and international epidemiological data suggest this approach to treatment is insufficient and use of an integrative protocol can better promote recovery. To determine the efficacy of integrating yoga-derived breathwork and meditation into substance use treatment with emphasis on a specific practice, Sudarshan Kriya yoga (SKY). Literature review conducted in PubMed, OVID, and SCOPUS. The initial search term was " Sudarshan Kriya" alone. Subsequent searches combined the search term " Sudarshan Kriya" with a series of substance use-related terms using AND to link the terms. SKY practice impacts quality of life, well-being, functioning, and substance use behavior. In patients with alcohol use disorder, SKY contributes to significant reduction in depressive symptoms, stress biomarkers, and alcohol use up to 6 months after treatment completion. SKY practitioners engaging in opioid partial agonist therapy may experience buprenorphine potentiation such that concurrent nonprescribed opioid use is eliminated. SKY practitioners can achieve tobacco cessation at a rate comparable to bupropion pharmacotherapy. SKY has established efficacy in the treatment of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Currently available evidence also supports integration of SKY into the management of SUDs, and expanded SKY research can ensure optimal use of this promising intervention within this clinical subspecialty.