Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Chet Lesniak

Abstract

AbstractIllicit opioid use takes thousands of Americans’ lives each year, reduces the quality of life for affected individuals, and results in sizable socioeconomic costs. Existing research has supported medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for this condition; however, MAT participants often continue to experience opioid craving and using behaviors. Mindfulness based relapse prevention (MBRP) uses mindfulness meditation and cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce likelihood of substance use relapse. This study used a combination of physical dependence theory, positive incentive theory, and classical conditioning theory to evaluate the impact of MBRP on illicit opioid use and cravings in a quantitative randomized, controlled experimental design. Volunteer participants (n=52) from a California Bay Area MAT program site were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Illicit opioid use, opioid cravings, and mindfulness data outcomes were evaluated at pretest, midtest, and posttest intervals for the experimental group receiving MBRP and treatment as usual and a treatment as usual control group. Multiple feasibility confounds including participant dropout interfered with study implementation, resulting in insufficient statistical power for analysis. The findings indicated the importance of anticipating feasibility problems in future similar study designs; however, on an individual level MBRP participants did report positive reactions to treatment. Empirically determining MBRP effectiveness in reducing illicit opioid use and cravings for MAT program participant may foster positive social change by reducing public health, behavioral, social, and legal problems, as well as human suffering associated with illicit opioid use.

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