Clinical Digest:  Mind and Body Approaches for Substance Use Disorders

Mindfulness-based approaches have shown some success when applied to the treatment of substance abuse and addiction. Mindfulness-based approaches for substance abuse treatment, in part, attempt to decrease the impact of negative affect, which is thought to serve as a trigger for substance use. Improving distress tolerance is an important aspect of mindfulness-based substance abuse treatment. These approaches can be part of a comprehensive addiction treatment plan that includes behavioral modifications, and may include pharmaceuticals to decrease cravings, group therapy, or counseling.

This issue of the digest provides a summary of current research on mind and body approaches, such as acupuncture, hypnotherapy, mindfulness meditation, music therapy, and yoga for substance use disorders.

NCCIH Presentations at the 2018 International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health

Dr. Emmeline Edwards

April 16, 2018

For the past 7 years, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has actively participated in planning and offering a wide array of sessions at the International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health (ICIMH) conference. This year, the conference will take place on May 8–11 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland.

NCCIH is pleased to provide nine scientific or educational sessions (two pre-Congress and seven workshops) this year for conference participants. We also have a poster presentation on a great communications topic: What Social Networks Teach Us About Patient-Provider Communications and Pain. Over the coming weeks we will feature blog posts to provide more in-depth information and tell you what you can expect from each of our nine sessions.

Recalls and Alerts of Products Sold as Dietary Supplements

The  U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regularly announces alerts and recalls of various products sold as dietary supplements.  This recently included several brands of kratom products, which were recalled because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

Reframing the Primary Care Management of Chronic Pain 

April 23, 2018, Main Campus (Bethesda, MD), Lipsett Amphitheater, Building 10. A remote viewing option will be available, or watch on Facebook LIVE. 

The next Integrative Medicine Lecture will be given by Erin E. Krebs, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School.