|
Preventing and Treating Substance Abuse
-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-
Gelderloos, P., Walton, K.G., Orme-Johnson, C.N.
(1991). Effectiveness of the transcendental meditation
program in preventing and treating
substance misuse: A Review. International
Journal of the Addictions, 26, 293-325.
These investigators reviewed 24 studies on the
benefits of Transcendental Meditation in treating
and preventing substance abuse. they
concluded from this review that "all studies
showed positive effects of the TM
program". Only two studies, however,
used longitudinal experimental designs with random
assignments of subjects. Myers & Eisner
(1974) randomly assigned young male students from
a community college (selected from a large pool of
volunteers). Sixty were assigned to TM,
60 to karate, and 60 to a no-treatment control
group. After 4 months, investigators
compared groups on use of marijuana, psychedelics,
uppers, downers, and hard drugs. There was a significant
drop in one or more categories or
substance abuse in TM participants relative to
controls. The second study (Bounouar),
(1989), examined 925 TM participants and 6,145
controls who attended an introductory lecture on
TM. Subjects were followed for 20 months,
examining tobacco consumption levels. Over
80% of those who meditated twice a day quit or
decreased smoking after 20 months, examining
tobacco consumption levels. Over 80% of
those who meditated twice a day quit or decreased
smoking after 20 months vs. 55% of irregular
mediators and 33% of controls (p<.0001).
also see Alexander, C.N., et al (1994).
Treating and preventing alcohol, nicotine, and
drug abuse through transcendental meditation: A
review and meta-analysis. Alcoholism
Treatment Quarterly, 11(1/2), 13-87.
Cochran, J.K., Beeghley, L., E.W. (1988).
Religiosity and alcohol behavior: an exploration
of reference group theory. Sociological
Forum, 3, 256-276. These investigators
used survey data from General Social Surveys
conducted between 1972-1984. During this
time, 7,581 adults ages 18 or older were
surveyed. Results indicated that four
measures of religiousness (attendance at services,
belief in life after death, strength of religious
belief, and religious group memberships) were all
inversely related to alcohol use or misuse, after
controlling for age, race, sex, urbanity,
religion, education, income, & prestige.
This study involved a large random national sample
of Americans of all ages.
Amey, C.H., Albrecht, S.L., & Miller, M.K.
(1996). Racial differences in adolescent
drug use: The impact of religion. Substance
Use and Misuse, 31, 1311-1332. These
investigators surveyed a random sample of 11,728
senior high school students. The dependent
variable was substance use (LSD, cocaine,
amphetamines, barbiturates, tranquilizers, heroin,
other narcotics, and inhalants). Religious
involvement was inversely related with all
substances. Frequent church attendance was
associated with 29% less cigarette smoking, 45%
less alcohol use, 33% less marijuana use, 21% less
other drug use. Importance of religious
beliefs was associated with 25% less cigarette
smoking, 55% less alcohol use, 22% less marijuana
use, and 12% less other drug use.
-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-
|
