Mindfulness, Alcoholism, and Relapse Prevention

Alcohol use and abuse contributes to a range of negative health consequences ranging from traffic accidents to cancer and cardiovascular disease And the economic costs are staggering Lost productivity healthcare expenses criminal justice costs and other factors drive the estimated cost of excessive drinking to $ billion Despite the advances made in alcohol treatment high relapse rates continue to be a major concern The goal of the MARP Mindfulness Alcoholism and Relapse Prevention project is to help individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder AUD to become more aware and accepting of their cravings emotions and thoughts while making value informed behavior changes MARP incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ACT and Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention Therapy MRPT into a single integrated process that has the goal of reducing substance use while increasing committed action toward personal values that enhance wellbeing The Phase I project is designed to test the feasibility of a prototype version of a relapse prevention program for people who have an alcohol use disorder and are in the first six months of having quit The primary aim is develop the first two units of a Web based unit mindfulness curriculum and to assess the feasibility of the materials by pilot testing the two units using a one panel pre and post training design with a sample of individuals with AUD Over million adults have an Alcohol Use Disorder AUD Nearly people die from alcohol related causes every year The estimated cost of excessive drinking is $ billion While significant advances have been made in alcohol treatment in the last thirty years there still remains a large gap between treatment needs and the small percentage of those who avail themselves of treatment Whether one receives treatment or attempts to quit on his or her own the potential for relapse is very high There is a strong need to develop effective relapse prevention interventions for people with AUD This project by focusing on mindfulness and valued action brings needed intervention tools o a population in very high need of support when trying to stop excessive heavy drinking