Pilot randomized trial on mindfulness training for smokers in young adult binge drinkers

Abstract

BackgroundWe report results of a pilot study designed to test a novel smoking cessation intervention, Mindfulness Training for Smokers (MTS), in smokers age 18-29 years with regular episodes of binge drinking. Mindfulness is a cognitive skill of applying close moment-to-moment attention to experience with a mental posture of acceptance and non-reactivity. The MTS intervention consisted of six weekly classes that provided instruction on how to use mindfulness to manage known precursors of smoking relapse including smoking triggers, strong emotions, stressful situations, addictive thoughts, urges, and withdrawal symptoms.MethodsThe MTS intervention was compared to Interactive Learning for Smokers (ILS), a time/intensity matched control group using daily non-directed walking instead of mindfulness meditation. Recruitment was conducted primarily at local technical colleges. Primary outcome measures included biochemically-confirmed smoking abstinence and reduction in alcohol use at the end of treatment (2-weeks post-quit attempt).ResultsThe sample (N = 55) was 70.9% male, with a mean age of 21.9 years, and a mean of 11.76 alcoholic drinks consumed per week. Intent-to-treat analysis showed biochemically-confirmed 7-day point prevalence abstinence rates at 2-weeks post-quit for MTS = 20.0% and ILS = 4.0%, p = .08. Secondary analysis showed number of drinks per week in the first 2-weeks post-quit correlated with smoking relapse at 2-weeks post-quit (p < .01).ConclusionsThis pilot study demonstrated that Mindfulness Training for Smokers shows promise for smoking cessation and alcohol use reduction in treating young adult smokers with alcohol abuse. Results suggest the need for a study with larger sample size and methods that reduce attrition.Trial registrationClnicalTrial.gov, NCT01679236

Mindfulness Meditation for the Treatment of Tobacco Use: A Systematic Review

“…Only two of the studies reported comorbid medical conditions or special populations. One of these was a study of young binge drinkers (Davis, Mills, et al, 2013). In the other study, the participants had mild intellectual disability .…”

“…The mindfulness intervention was delivered remotely, via personal digital assistant, in one of the studies (Ruscio et al, 2015). Four of the studies delivered the mindfulness intervention in an outpatient setting (Davis, Mills, et al, 2013;Davis, Goldberg, et al, 2014a;Davis, Manley, et al, 2014b;Tang, Tang, and Posner, 2013). In four of the studies, it was unclear where the intervention was delivered (Bowen and Marlatt, 2009;Brewer et al, 2011;Rogojanski, Vettese, and Antony, 2011a;Singh et al, 2014).…”

“…Five RCTs provided the mindfulness intervention as monotherapy (Bowen and Marlatt, 2009;Davis, Mills, et al, 2013;Ruscio et al, 2015;Singh et al, 2014;Tang, Tang, and Posner, 2013). Two RCTs utilized a mindfulness intervention as adjunctive therapy, specifying that all participants received this in addition to nicotine replacement (Davis, Goldberg, et al, 2014a;Davis, Manley, et al, 2014b).…”

“…The interventions included three studies utilizing MTS (Davis, Mills, et al, 2013;Davis, Goldberg, et al, 2014a;Davis, Manley, et al, 2014b). Two of the studies had brief mindfulness interventions (Bowen and Marlatt, 2009;Ruscio et al, 2015), described as brief mindfulness practice and brief mindfulness-based instructions, respectively.…”

“…In one of these, both mindfulness and FFS groups were provided with nicotine replacement (Davis, Manley, et al, 2014b). Four RCTs compared mindfulness meditation with an alternative intervention, including telephone counseling (in addition to nicotine replacement), interactive learning for smokers, relaxation training, and suppression strategies (Davis, Mills, et al, 2013;Davis, Goldberg, et al, 2014a;Rogojanski, Vettese, and Antony, 2011a;Tang, Tang, and Posner, 2013). Three of the studies utilized comparators that did not offer a therapeutic intervention, including sham meditation, passive (no instruction), and TAU, which varied among participants and could include counseling or nicotine replacement (Bowen and Marlatt, 2009;Ruscio et al, 2015;Singh et al, 2014).…”