MBRP on Reducing Craving and Addictive Behaviour in Adults

Mindfulness-base interventions are promising interventions as an adjunctive therapy to be integrated into current existing anti-drug services. The advantages of MBRP can include: 1) having very low stigma as mindfulness courses are already widely accepted and used among different populations including healthy populations. The running of mindfulness courses can be more acceptable by the community; 2) it could be more accessible and cost-effective as it can be provided in group and in community settings; 3) it is a skill that can be learned and be used after the 8 week course , e.g. when the drug user is triggered in unforeseen circumstances, they may apply the learnt mindfulness skills to help themselves overcome the difficulties when timely professional help is not available; 4) Drug Abuse Statistics from Narcotics Division, Security Bureau of the government of Hong Kong showed that the most common reasons for recurrent drug use were to avoid discomfort of its absence (62%) and relief of depression/stress/boredom (30%). The study objectives are as follow: 1. To evaluate the feasibility of using mindfulness- based relapse prevention (MBRP) programme among adults with substance abuse in Hong Kong; 2. To examine the changes of craving, substance use, mood symptoms, self-efficacy, acceptance, level of mindfulness and quality of life between those who have enrolled in the MBRP as compared to those in the usual care control group; 3. To evaluate the correlations between changes in substance use and craving and changes in mood symptoms, self-efficacy, acceptance, level of mindfulness, and quality of life; and 4. To study participants' characteristics related to adherence and benefits associated with MBRP.