A Dyadic Mindfulness-Based Intervention as an Antidote to Substance Use Related Stigma and Craving

• Main Author: Poe, Lindsey M
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2022
• Subjects: Clinical psychology
• ISBN: 9798845417763

Substance use disorders (SUD) can be a chronic relapsing condition that is often stigmatized by friends, family, and the broader community. Craving, the intense desire or urge to use a substance, is a common experience for individuals with SUD, and its reduction is often a goal of treatment. Mindfulness interventions, which strive for non-judgmental awareness of the present moment, help foster an open-minded approach to the experience of craving. An unrealized opportunity of mindfulness interventions is encouraging a positive and non-stigmatized interaction between the individual with SUD and social supports (e.g., friends, family members) during and following an episode of craving. Study I—conducted online through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (N = 142)—documented the need for an intervention that improved rates of craving disclosure through overcoming stigma with dyadic mindfulness. Results showed that higher levels of perceived social support and lower levels of perceived stigma independently predicted higher levels of craving disclosure, and participants were more likely to disclose to people in their network who previously or currently used substances and who were more supportive generally. Informed by Study I, Study II included the development and refinement of the Dyadic Mindfulness Intervention using focus groups (k = 4 groups; N = 27). Largely, the DMI was found highly acceptable, feasible, and needed in the SUD field by both licensed addiction therapists and individuals in SUD treatment. Future research is recommended to investigate other aspects of stigma, craving disclosure, and characteristics of the social support network, in addition to continue to refine and potentially pilot the present DMI as an antidote to SUD-related stigma and craving.