Adapting Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Substance Use and Comorbid Conditions Among Diverse Populations

Abstract: Substance use disorder frequently co-occurs with comorbid psychological conditions, highlighting the need for comprehensive treatment approaches that can effectively support individuals in achieving recovery. Mindfulness-based interventions are effective evidence-based treatments for an array of psychological diagnoses, including substance use disorder. The current article explores best practices for adapting mindfulness-based interventions for substance use disorder and co-morbid conditions among diverse populations. It further offers guidance on maintaining fidelity to the core empirical and theoretical foundations underlying mindfulness-based treatments while ensuring contextual sensitivity and adaptability to support the many pathways to recovery from undesired substance use. Through integrating fidelity and flexibility, ways to optimize and personalize mindfulness-based treatments across contexts are highlighted, including through a clinical vignette.

Sources of Funding: DML is supported via the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism T32 Predoctoral Fellowship (5T32AA018108) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse POSITIVE Research Study (UG3/UH3DA051441). KW is supported by R01AA031159.