SECONDARY PREVENTION OF DRUG DEPENDENCE THROUGH THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION PROGRAM IN METROPOLITAN PHILADELPHIA

• NCJ Number: 59235
• Journal: International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 12 Issue: 6 Dated: (1977) Pages: 729-754
• Author(s): R J MONAHAN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 26 pages
• Corporate Author: Marcel Dekker, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PREPARED FOR MAHARISHI INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY - MASTERS THESIS

Annotation

USING MAILED QUESTIONNAIRES, THE TRANSCENDENTAL MEDITATION PROGRAM WAS INVESTIGATED AS AN APPROACH TO THE SECONDARY PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE.

Abstract

IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS OF THE PUBLIC PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION IN THE TM TECHNIQUE ON DRUG-USE PATTERNS IN A HETEROGENOUS POPULATION, THE STUDY WAS CONDUCTED IN A LARGE METROPOLITAN AREA. A RANDOM SAMPLE OF NAMES WAS SELECTED TO BECOME RECIPIENTS OF A MAILED RESEARCH PACKET. SUBJECTS WERE TO CHOOSE A NONMEDITATING FRIEND AS A MATCHED CONTROL-GROUP SUBJECT FOR STATISTICAL COMPARISON. AN INDEPENDENT MARKET RESEARCH FIRM WAS CONTRACTED TO HANDLE THE MAILING, RETURNS, AND DATA PROCESSING FOR THE SURVEY. RESULTS OF THE STUDY SHOWED THAT A GREATER PERCENTAGE OF TM SUJECTS THAN CONTROLS DECREASED USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS AND THE AMOUNT OF DECREASE WAS GREATER. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE TM PROGRAM MIGHT BREAK THE INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLE OF ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF MOOD-ALTERING SUBSTANCES, INDIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE ALLEVIATION OF THE ILLEGAL DRUG-ABUSE PROBLEM IN THE OVERALL POPULATION. A SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP WAS FOUND BETWEEN REGULARITY OF MEDITATION AND THE AMOUNT OF DECREASE IN USE OF NICOTINE, SOFT ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, AND MARIHUANA. THERE WERE ALSO TRENDS TOWARD SIGNIFICANCE IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REGULARITY AND THE AMOUNT OF DECREASE FOR CAFFEINE AND HALLUCINOGENS. MEDITATORS HAD USED MORE PRESCRIBED PSYCHOACTIVE MEDICATIONS BEFORE LEARNING MEDITATION, BUT USAGE LEVELS RETURNED TO NORMAL SOON AFTER STARTING. FORMER USERS OF ALCHOHOL, CIGARETTES, OR ILLEGAL DRUGS ACHIEVED REMARKABLE ABSTINENCE RECORDS. FOR MOST SUBSTANCES THE AMOUNT OF DECREASE WAS POSITIVELY CORRELATED WITH THE DEGREE OF PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM AND THE LENGTH OF TIME MEDITATING. THE ARTICLE SUGGESTS THAT THE PUBLIC TM PROGRAM HAS MADE A SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL DRUG-ABUSE-PREVENTION EFFORT AND THAT WIDE-SCALE IMPLEMENTATION WOULD TEND TO REVERSE THE CONTINUED UPWARD TREND IN SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCY IN THIS COUNTRY. REFERENCES AND TABULAR DATA ACCOMPANY THIS ARTICLE.