1. Mindfulness Practice and Addiction Treatment
Mel Pohl, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Las Vegas Recovery Center 1

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3. Objectives Review nature of suffering.
Identify holding and attachment.
Describe mindfulness as it pertains to
addiction treatment.
Experience meditation practices first-hand.
Resting in Awareness 3

4. SUFFERING = Pain X Resistance4

5. Mindfulness Meditation
Based on Theraveda and Mahayana Buddhism – 500 BC - non religious.
Focus is on insight (vipassana).
Goal is NOT to eliminate pain or stress.
Use intentional, focused awareness  achieve nonjudgmental, self acceptance in the present moment. 5

6. Mindfulness Practice
Willful directed attention to present moment without judgment.
Daily practice – like tuning an instrument.
Changes the brain – neuroplasticity.
Enriches the brain’s neuronal structures –
Enhances connections.
Affects neurotransmitter levels – decreased cortisol and epinephrine (stimulation), increased serotonin and GABA (relaxation, antidepressant). 6

7. Mindfulness Meditation - Chronic Pain
After 3 months of daily meditation in 27 older adults (>65):
Less pain.
Improved attention.
Enhanced well-being.
Improved quality of life.
Morone, N, Lynch, Cheryl et.al.
The Journal of Pain (2008) 9:9; 7

8. Neurobiology of Mindfulness
Decreased pain unpleasantness by 50%, 4 days mindfulness training; better tolerance of chronic low back pain. (Zeidan, et al, 2011 & 2016; Morone, et al, 2016).
Mechanisms (Zeidan, et al 2011):
Cognitive regulation of nocieception.
Reframing contextual evaluation of sensory events.
Limbic gating mechanism--switching station.
“I feel the pain but not as upset by it”-- can let it go.
44% meaningful pain reduction with 8 weeks MBSR or mindfulness training (Morone, et al, 2016, Cherkin et al 2016).

9. Neurobiology of Mindfulness
Greater sleep time vs. controls (9 weeks of mindfulness training).
mindfulness vs. mind-wandering (Britton, 2012).
Decreased inflammation - MBSR 8 weeks (Rosenkranz et al 2013).
Improved cortical plasticity--gray matter (Lazar, 2005).
Posterior cingulate gyrus - mind wandering.
Tempero-parietal junction: perspective, empathy & compassion.
Lateral hippocampus: learning, memory, emotional regulation.

10. Mindfulness Practice Meta-cognitive process (vs CBT).
Change out relationship with our thoughts without changing the thoughts themselves.
Detach from thoughts, feelings and physical sensations (attachment = suffering).
Observer or spectator of thoughts.
Notice/recognize without acting.
Respond rather than react. 10

11. Mindfulness Practice Utilize “beginner’s mind”.
Knowing that I don’t know.
Being open-hearted and open-minded to new possibilities.
Be kind to yourself (unconditionally loving).
Tenderly holding and intimately knowing our suffering in any and all circumstances. 11

12. Mindfulness Practice Sitting still takes courage!!
We don’t want to feel what we feel.
We automatically want to cover over the pain in one way or another – identifying with VICTORY or VICTIMHOOD.
Look directly with compassion and humor.
Find meaning in the pain – use as an opportunity. 12

13. Mindfulness Practice Focus on an object - usually the breath.
Thoughts ebb and flow (like bubbles).
Bring attention back to the breath (training a puppy).
No effort to clear thoughts or push away negatives – or hold positives.
Cravings and urges are a desire for things to be different than they are.
No “good” meditation – no outcome. 13

14. Mindfulness Practice

15. Mindfulness Practice Suffering (Dukkah)
Attachment to thoughts or outcomes.
Wanting physical states to be different (e.g. pain).
Relentless mind activity (ruminating, obsessing, catastrophizing).
Deep-seated habitual responses to the world.
Scrambling for security has never brought more than momentary relief and joy.
Attachment to PAIN seems grounding – it is solid and familiar! 15

16. Mindfulness Practice Resistance
Closed – minded.
Impatient – restless.
Unkind thoughts and judgments.
Cynical attitude.
Feels as foreign as walking on your hands.
All fear – based!! 16

17. Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Addictive Behaviors
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention for Addictive Behaviors Bowen, Chawla and Marlatt, 2011
Mindfulness + Relapse Prevention – CBT.
Self-compassion for craving and urges.
Parallel to MBSR and MBCT.

18. M.O.R.E. - Eric Garland, PhD - 2016
Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement
M.O.R.E. - Eric Garland, PhD
Mindfulness – cues, craving, stressors:
 Urge-surfing.
Reappraisal.
Savoring. 18

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20. THANK YOU Mel Pohl, MD, DFASAM 702-515-1373 mpohl@centralrecovery.com
drmelpohl.com