Restoring Joy: Mindfulness as a Tool for Opioid Recovery
Despite growing efforts to combat the opioid crisis, characterized by a rise in opioid-related overdoses in response to increased availability within the United States, many treatment approaches continue to overlook one key issue: individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) often lose the ability to emotionally process life’s joys and stressors. A new study conducted by Garland at the University of California, San Diego dives into this impairment of emotional regulation, investigating whether a mindfulness-based therapy could help people with OUD reconnect with their positive emotions, and ultimately reduce their drug cravings.
To examine the relationship between opioid misuse and emotional regulations, this study involved 160 individuals with chronic pain and long-term opioid use, some of whom met the criteria for OUD. Participants were asked to perform a task designed to stimulate positive emotions. Researchers monitored the participants’ brain activity with an electroencephalogram (EEG), comparing the emotional processing brain markers between individuals with OUD and those without. Those with OUD showed noticeably lower brain marker signals when trying to enhance their response to positive imagery, suggesting reduced emotional reactivity. This supports the idea that opioid misuse dampens the brain’s reward system, leaving individuals with a decreased ability to experience happiness. Most importantly, the lower these brain marker signals were, the more intense the individuals’ cravings for opioids tended to be.
To examine the relationship between opioid misuse and emotional regulations, this study involved 160 individuals with chronic pain and long-term opioid use, some of whom met the criteria for OUD. Participants were asked to perform a task designed to stimulate positive emotions. Researchers monitored the participants’ brain activity with an electroencephalogram (EEG), comparing the emotional processing brain markers between individuals with OUD and those without. Those with OUD showed noticeably lower brain marker signals when trying to enhance their response to positive imagery, suggesting reduced emotional reactivity. This supports the idea that opioid misuse dampens the brain’s reward system, leaving individuals with a decreased ability to experience happiness. Most importantly, the lower these brain marker signals were, the more intense the individuals’ cravings for opioids tended to be.
MORE involves mindful breathing, body scans, rethinking negative thoughts, and savoring of positive moments.
Image Source: Leslie Juarez
In order to find and test a possible solution, a group of participants, who were at risk for opioid misuse, received either eight weeks of supportive therapy or Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE), a structured program that incorporates mindfulness, cognitive reappraisal, and the savoring of pleasantness. Individuals who completed the MORE program showed an increase in brain responses to positive stimuli and reported improvements in a greater positive outlook and lower levels of anhedonia, the inability to feel pain. They also reported significantly lower drug cravings, suggesting that restoring emotional responsiveness may help reduce a reliance on opioids.
Garland helped reveal a vital insight—for people with OUD, treatment may need to go beyond managing cravings and withdrawals. Addressing the brain’s impaired response to rewards may hold the key to long-term recovery, offering individuals the opportunity to not only overcome drug abuse, but also the chance to re-engage with the meaningful aspects of life. Mindfulness-based practices, such as those in MORE, could be an effective way to rewire the brain’s emotional circuitry, helping individuals find motivation in sources other than opioids.
As treatment plans continue to evolve for those with addiction, these findings emphasize the significance of emotional well-being in recovery. Strategies that restore one’s ability to find joy in life may not just help people stay off opioids—it may help them want to.
Garland helped reveal a vital insight—for people with OUD, treatment may need to go beyond managing cravings and withdrawals. Addressing the brain’s impaired response to rewards may hold the key to long-term recovery, offering individuals the opportunity to not only overcome drug abuse, but also the chance to re-engage with the meaningful aspects of life. Mindfulness-based practices, such as those in MORE, could be an effective way to rewire the brain’s emotional circuitry, helping individuals find motivation in sources other than opioids.
As treatment plans continue to evolve for those with addiction, these findings emphasize the significance of emotional well-being in recovery. Strategies that restore one’s ability to find joy in life may not just help people stay off opioids—it may help them want to.
Featured Image Source: Dingzeyu Lee
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