Yoga as an Adjunctive Intervention to Medication-Assisted Treatment with Buprenorphine+Naloxone

Abstract

Objective: According to the CDC, 2.6 million people in the United States have an opioid use disorder and drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death. Opioids are involved in 63% of overdose deaths. It is imperative that we identify evidence based treatments to stem the tide of this epidemic. This pilot study serves to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of Yoga as an adjunctive intervention for individuals with opioid use disorder in active medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Methods: Participants (N=26) were recruited from a buprenorphine/naloxone MAT program to participate in this study. 13 participants engaged in a 12 week adjunctive yoga intervention while remaining in treatment as usual (TAU) MAT. 13 matched controls were recruited and remained in TAU MAT. Both groups were evaluated at baseline, 45 days and 90 days for changes in craving for opioids, treatment retention, relapse rates, sleep, and symptoms of anxiety and perceived stress. Results: A two-way treatment by time analysis of variance was performed using a mixed effects model. The treatment by follow-up time interaction effect was significant for perceived stress (p=0.026) indicating that the yoga intervention had a larger effect than TAU (MAT). Changes in perceived stress decreased significantly over time in both the yoga intervention group and the TAU MAT matched control group. Conclusion: This pilot study indicated strong evidence for Yoga being an effective adjunctive treatment to MAT TAU in reducing perceived stress. Further research with a larger population is needed to determine impact on other mental health symptoms and relapse and retention rates.

The association between exercise and prescription opioid misuse: A scoping review.

“…Five out of the nine remaining preselected studies had consistent scoring among Reviewers 1 (WCG) and 2 (PPMM) and did not require the review of a third author (CC; see Table 3; Dunne et al, 2020; Ford et al, 2018; Goldsmith et al, 2020; Mehl-Madrona et al, 2016; Thorlund et al, 2021). The remaining four preselected studies required the review of a third author for final scoring and classification: One was considered to have a low risk of bias and good scoring based on the temporality of the study and the measurement of the exposure (Veliz et al, 2015), two were considered to have a moderate risk of bias and fair scoring based on baseline similarities between the comparison groups as well as blinding, randomization and treatment allocation techniques, sample size and power of the study (Cutter et al, 2014; Shaffer et al, 1997); and one was considered to have a high risk of bias or low scoring based on dropout rates (Lander et al, 2018). This study was excluded from the selected studies.…”

Medication Assisted Treatment Program Policies: Opinions of People in Treatment

“…For example, several small but encouraging studies have found that yoga may help reduce stress for people in addiction treatment. [7][8][9] Responses also indicated a general acceptance of the use of marijuana while in treatment. Again, respondents emphasized the need for consideration on an individual basis.…”