Drug Abuse and Yoga

- Ashwini Surpur

According to National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics (NCDAS) in 2020, 50.0% of the people in America, that is, half of people 12 and older, have used illicit drugs at least once. Drug overdose deaths in the US since 2000 are nearing one (1) million. The federal budget for drug control in 2020 was $35 billion.

The above statistics show the pervasiveness and alarming rate of addictive substances like alcohol, marijuana, and even hard drugs like opioids and cocaine in the society we live in.  One can start from occasional use to abuse and eventually to dependence and addiction.  Many factors lead to drug use and abuse, including family dynamics, stress, divorce, childhood abuse, and a history of mental health conditions. Many youngsters start the use of drugs and alcohol as a recreation, for experiencing ecstasy and altered states of consciousness.

Yoga Therapy for Alcohol and Drug Dependency:

Yoga, particularly the philosophy, is centered on the core concept of mind and happiness. This makes yoga a perfect fit for treating people dependent on external substances for peace and happiness. Yoga offers physical, emotional, and psychological benefits that complement traditional addiction recovery methods, such as counseling, group therapy, and medication-assisted treatments.

Yoga can be a great tool in supporting individuals with alcohol and drug dependency in the following ways:

  • Yoga helps reduce stress and induces relaxation. This can itself be a great relief that prompts drug users to reduce their substances. When we are happy already, is there a need for anything else to make us happy?

  • Substance dependency is often associated with emotional regulation issues. Mindfulness practices help improve Emotional Quotient (EQ). One can conquer peer pressure and become confident about who they are. Yogasanas combined with pranayama help cultivate a sense of emotional balance and stability.

  • Coming out of alcohol and drugs is not easy. Patients usually experience painful physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Yoga can help alleviate these symptoms by promoting relaxation and reducing the intensity of cravings.

  • Yoga reduces the risk of relapse: Although many drug rehabilitation centers provide a congenial atmosphere for patients to come out of addiction and dependency, the chances of relapse loom large for them. When they take up yoga as their lifestyle, they can stay healthy and stress-free, thus reducing the risk of relapse. Mindfulness practices help patients to watch their cravings before they become addicted.

Several studies have explored the positive impact of yoga on addiction recovery:

  • A 2013 study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that yoga improved mood and decreased perceived stress among individuals in substance use recovery programs.

  • A 2018 study in Complementary Therapies in Medicine showed that yoga practices, when used as part of an outpatient addiction treatment program, significantly reduced cravings, anxiety, and depression in recovering individuals.

  • Research has also shown that yoga helps regulate the autonomic nervous system, which may be dysregulated in individuals with substance use disorders.

Yoga offers a complementary approach to treating alcohol and drug dependency by addressing the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of addiction.

Ashwini Surpur is the Executive Director and a Senior Yoga Therapist at Yoga Bharati.

Previous
Previous

Yoga Bharati - Our Philosophy

Next
Next

Equanimity through Right Perspective