Mindfulness for Addiction Recovery in Prison: Research-Backed Approaches That Work
- PMI Staff
- 21 hours ago
- 11 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
What if the key to breaking a cycle of incarceration and addiction isn't just a stronger willpower, but a 12-minute daily practice that can actually rewire the brain?
The Addiction Crisis Behind Prison Walls
The numbers reveal a hidden epidemic: more than half of all people incarcerated in U.S. jails and prisons struggle with substance use disorders. In the Netherlands, research shows that 80-90% of the incarcerated population has had a psychiatric diagnosis at some point in their lives, with drug and alcohol addiction among the most common.
These aren't just statistics—they're millions of human beings caught in cycles of pain, self-medication, and incarceration.
Marshall's journey reflects this reality. Growing up with an alcoholic mother and a father with severe bipolar disorder, he discovered marijuana at age 12. "When I smoked marijuana, I felt good," he recalls. What started as a coping mechanism eventually led to Vicodin, OxyContin, and ultimately federal charges for trafficking crystal meth and heroin.
The Traditional Addiction Model's Limitations
Traditional addiction treatment in prisons often relies heavily on:
12-step programs
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Medication-assisted treatment
Group counseling
While these approaches help some people, recidivism rates remain high, with 68% of formerly incarcerated individuals rearrested within three years. This suggests we need additional tools in our recovery toolkit.
Rethinking Addiction Through Mindfulness
Dr. Brian Ackerman, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist working in Rhode Island's treatment centers and prisons, proposes a radical reframe: What if we understood addiction not primarily as a disease, but as a Self-Injurious Impulse Disorder (SIID)?
The Self-Injury Framework
From this mindfulness perspective, substance use is just one of many ways people self-injure. The act of putting a chemical toxin into your body is as self-injurious as cutting your wrists—you just don't see the wound immediately.
But the injury goes even deeper:
Physical toxins: Drugs and alcohol damage the body. Mental toxins: Thoughts like "I'm a loser, a disappointment, a failure. "Emotional toxins: Chronic anxiety, depression, anger, and shame
Often, people use substances to escape these mental and emotional toxins—creating a vicious cycle of self-injury.
The Dual Nature: Recognizing Two Sides
Dr. Ackerman's framework invites people to recognize their dual nature:
Lower self: This part is shaped by negative thoughts, difficult emotions, and self-injurious behaviors. It tends to dominate when harmful habits take over, making positive change challenging.
Higher self: This part holds the potential for self-care, self-protection, and growth
Mindfulness practice helps people notice the ongoing struggle between these two aspects of themselves. By repeatedly choosing to support their higher self, people gradually strengthen their ability to care for, protect, and nurture themselves.
The Neuroscience of Craving and Recovery
Dr. Judson Brewer, whose research on mindfulness and addiction has garnered over 18 million views on TED Talks, has spent two decades studying how our brains get hooked—and how they can get unhooked.
The Habit Loop That Drives Addiction
Every addictive behavior follows the same neurological pattern:
Trigger (feeling anxious, lonely, or physically craving)
Behavior (using substances, overeating, or worrying)
Reward (temporary relief, numbing, or sense of control)
This is called reinforcement learning, and it's how 98% of our daily behaviors become automatic.
"If we do something and there's a certain result, and that result gives us some reward, we're going to repeat it," Dr. Brewer explains. With addictive substances, this process goes into overdrive—drugs like cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine hijack the brain's dopamine system, making the reward signal exponentially stronger.
The Power of Paying Attention
Here's what's revolutionary: research from Dr. Brewer's lab shows that simply paying attention—bringing curious awareness to the habit loop—can change it.
In studies using their smoking cessation app "Craving to Quit," researchers found that within just 10 to 15 times of mindfully paying attention while overeating, people's reward value for that behavior dropped below zero, and they naturally changed the pattern.
When Dr. Brewer scanned people's brains during mindfulness practice, he found that decreased activity in the default mode network was linked to reduced smoking within just one month.
Research-Proven Prison Mindfulness Programs
Multiple peer-reviewed studies have documented the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions for incarcerated populations:
Vipassana Meditation in Jail
After release, participants in a 10-day Vipassana meditation course showed:
Significant reductions in alcohol, marijuana, and crack cocaine use compared to standard treatment
Decreases in alcohol-related problems and psychiatric symptoms
Increases in positive psychosocial outcomes
Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP)
Studies show MBRP:
Reduces substance use days and addiction severity
Demonstrates greater reductions in substance use compared to treatment as usual
May have longer-lasting effects than cognitive behavioral treatment alone because participants develop an ongoing practice rather than just learning techniques
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in Dutch Prisons
When 22 inmates completed MBSR training in five prisons, both participants and staff reported improvements in stress management, coping skills, impulse control, aggression, and self-esteem. It is important to note that the Dutch correctional system emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment, often offering comprehensive support programs and individualized care. This cultural context could explain the positive engagement with mindfulness practices.
Additionally, 80-90% of these inmates had a lifetime psychiatric diagnosis, yet they were able to engage meaningfully with the practice. Both participants and staff reported improvements in stress management, coping skills, impulse control, aggression, and self-esteem.
The Research Consensus
A recent systematic review in Psychology of Addictive Behaviors noted that over the past 35 years, mindfulness practices have increasingly been integrated into Western medical settings, with more than a dozen protocolled mindfulness-based interventions now developed specifically for addictive behaviors.
How Mindfulness Changes the Brain
From Fighting Cravings to Befriending Experience
One of the most transformative insights from mindfulness research challenges our instinct to fight or flee from uncomfortable sensations.
Dr. Brewer shares the story of a veteran who said, "Doc, if I don't smoke, I feel like my head will explode."
Instead of offering medication or coping strategies, Dr. Brewer asked him to describe what "head exploding" actually felt like. As they mapped out the sensations together—the tightness, the building pressure—something unexpected happened. The intensity peaked, then started to decrease.
The veteran's eyes widened. "I didn't realize these things could go away without smoking."
This simple act of curious observation revealed two crucial insights:
Sensations come and go on their own—we don't have to do anything to make them disappear.
These sensations aren't "me"—they're simply temporary physical experiences.
The Neuroscience of Change
Researchers find mindfulness lowers default mode network activity and increases executive function. Just 8 weeks of practice can also increase gray matter in areas for learning and emotional regulation.
Decreased activity in the default mode network (associated with rumination, craving, and self-referential thinking)
Increased activity in executive function networks (associated with self-regulation and impulse control)
Changes in brain structure after just 8 weeks of practice, including increased gray matter density in regions associated with learning, memory, and emotional regulation
The Minimal Effective Dose for Recovery
One of the most encouraging findings for busy people and resource-constrained prison programs: you don't need hours of meditation to see benefits.
Research by Dr. Amishi Jha found that just 12 minutes of daily mindfulness practice showed measurable improvements in focus and resilience among soldiers and first responders.
Dr. Brewer's research emphasizes quality over quantity—informal practices integrated into daily life often move the needle more than formal sitting meditation.
"The more somebody understands the principles, and the more they can see how they play out in their daily lives, the more they will incorporate them into their daily lives," Dr. Brewer notes.
From Self-Judgment to Self-Compassion
Perhaps the most challenging aspect of recovery—whether from addiction or from incarceration—is learning to embrace personal responsibility without collapsing into shame and self-blame.
The Role of Loving-Kindness Meditation
Marshall discovered during his time in prison that metta (loving-kindness meditation) was essential for building a foundation of curious, compassionate awareness.
"Self-love is huge," he reflects. "Buddhism really opened the doors to me understanding self-wellness, self-help, self-love, and then being able to get to a certain point where you're good with that and being able to then project it outwards onto the world and others."
Balancing Responsibility and Compassion
Marshall speaks candidly about this struggle: "The damage that I caused, because I did cause a lot of damage, and I do feel guilty about it. And sometimes I'm faced with it. It definitely hurts. But understanding that now I'm doing something different... Being able to take my history, the suffering and pain, and the experiences of the past and refocus them into a positive way is one of the things that makes me feel as if I'm of use, like I'm doing something meaningful and worthwhile, which motivates me."
The Twin Superpowers: Curiosity and Kindness
Dr. Brewer's research points to curiosity and kindness as the twin superpowers of sustainable change.
"If we bring kindness to our experience, it will support us in being curious. If we bring curiosity to our experience, it will support us in being kind."
He encourages people to recognize moments of kindness—times they've been kind to themselves or others, or times others have been kind to them. This isn't "Pollyanna" positive thinking, but recognizing evidence of an identity already present.
"Kindness feels good. It's a no-brainer. We can start reinforcing that virtuous cycle... It is unshakable. You can't argue with kindness, you can't outcompete it with meanness."
Building Recovery Communities: From Prison to Freedom
Marshall's story didn't end with his personal practice in prison. Today, he manages recovery coaches for Aware Recovery Care in Massachusetts and runs Tiffany's Recovery Inc. (TRI Recovery), a nonprofit he founded and named after his sister, who died from a drug overdose.
Practical Recovery Programs That Work
Through TRI Recovery, Marshall has created:
Dharma Outreach: Working with a formerly incarcerated Buddhist monk to bring meditation teachings to detox centers, homeless shelters, and other underserved populations
Prisoners of Prosperity: A support group for formerly incarcerated people, with 11 men consistently showing up, all at high risk, but none falling back into the system
Book Donation Programs: Providing recovery, self-help, spiritual, and philosophical books to institutions
The Importance of Community
Research increasingly shows that to make a substantial impact on recidivism, professional programs must emphasize the interdependency between "helper" and "helped" and build meditation communities both inside and outside of prison.
After five years in prison, Marshall encountered the work of Buddhist teacher Bhikkhu Bodhi on the Noble Eightfold Path. "The Buddhist understanding of intoxicants as corrupting the mind so that one can't practice spirituality properly... made a lot of sense," he says.
From that point forward, Marshall stopped using substances and began "really kind of dug in hard with Buddhism and psychology, trying to understand who I was going to be when they released me from prison."
Implementing Mindfulness Programs in Correctional Settings
Three Essential Qualities for Teachers
Dr. Brewer identified three hallmarks of effective mindfulness teachers and practitioners:
Curiosity - Bringing genuine interest to the present moment experience
Kindness - Offering compassion to ourselves and others
Humility - Maintaining beginner's mind and avoiding ego attachment
"The more humility we can bring to these practices, and the more 'beginner's mind,' this 'don't know' mind we carry, the more we can see through our egos and identities, the more helpful we'll be," he notes.
Overcoming Barriers to Access
Marshall's reflection on his difficulty finding a Buddhist community after release speaks to an important challenge: many meditation centers and Buddhist communities remain largely middle and upper-middle-class spaces that don't always feel welcoming to people coming out of prison, homelessness, or poverty.
As a movement, we need to do better at opening our doors and creating spaces where all people—regardless of their past—can access these liberating practices.
Conclusion: A Portable Practice for Freedom
What makes mindfulness particularly powerful for people navigating incarceration and addiction is its portability. As Marshall learned, "Anywhere I was, I could practice. In my cell. Walking the yard. In the chow hall. Nobody could take that away from me."
The Research Is Clear
Mindfulness-based interventions can significantly:
Reduce substance use, anxiety, and depression
Lower criminal recidivism rates
Create lasting changes in brain structure and function.
Provide effects that begin within weeks and may last longer than those of traditional cognitive-behavioral approaches.
Beyond Symptom Reduction
But perhaps more importantly, mindfulness offers something deeper than symptom reduction. It offers a way to befriend our own experience, to recognize that we are not our cravings, not our thoughts, not our past mistakes. It provides a path from self-injury to self-care, from isolation to community, from shame to kindness.
As Dr. Ackerman writes, when someone can report "I am aware of having the thought that I am a failure" rather than "I am a failure," they've reached first base safely. When they can say "I used to have many negative self-thoughts that plagued me," they've made it home.
The Path Forward
The journey from addiction to recovery, from incarceration to freedom, begins with this simple, profound shift in awareness. Research now confirms what contemplative traditions have taught for millennia: the pathway to freedom lies not in fighting ourselves, but in learning to pay attention—with curiosity and kindness—to exactly what is.
Resources for Mindfulness and Addiction Recovery
Learn More:
Listen to the full podcast: Mindfulness and Addiction with Marshall Lane
Support Marshall's work: TiffanysRecoveryInc.com
Read the research: Mindfulness-Based Interventions for Addictive Behaviors
Get Help: If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use and incarceration, the Prison Mindfulness Institute offers programs and resources. Visit prisonmindfulness.org to learn more.
About Prison Mindfulness Institute
The Prison Mindfulness Institute works to bring evidence-based meditation and mindfulness programs to incarcerated individuals, correctional staff, and re-entry programs. Our trauma-informed approach combines ancient contemplative wisdom with modern neuroscience to support recovery, reduce recidivism, and promote healing.
References and Endnotes
[1] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Criminal Justice DrugFacts. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/criminal-justice
[2] Bersani, G., Liberati, D., Rognoni, E., & Minervini, D. (2012). Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction training in Dutch prisons. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 51(5), 305-325.
[3] Alper, M., Durose, M.R., & Markman, J. (2018). 2018 Update on Prisoner Recidivism: A 9-Year Follow-up Period (2005-2014). Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.
[4] Ackerman, B.L. (2017). Moving Beyond an Addiction Model of Alcohol and Substance Abuse: A Mindfulness Perspective. Journal of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, 5(2), 261. doi: 10.4172/2329-6488.1000261
[5] Maull, F. (Interviewer). (2023, April 27). Mindfulness and Addiction with Dr. Judson Brewer [Audio podcast episode]. In Prison Mindfulness Podcast. Prison Mindfulness Institute. https://www.prisonmindfulness.org/podcast
[6] Brewer, J.A., Mallik, S., Babuscio, T.A., Nich, C., Johnson, H.E., Deleone, C.M., Minnix-Cotton, C.A., Byrne, S.A., Kober, H., Weinstein, A.J., Carroll, K.M., & Rounsaville, B.J. (2011). Mindfulness training for smoking cessation: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 119(1-2), 72-80.
[7] Garrison, K.A., Zeffiro, T.A., Scheinost, D., Constable, R.T., & Brewer, J.A. (2015). Meditation leads to reduced default mode network activity beyond an active task. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 15(3), 712-720.
[8] Bowen, S., Witkiewitz, K., Clifasefi, S.L., Grow, J., Chawla, N., Hsu, S.H., Carroll, H.A., Harrop, E., Collins, S.E., Lustyk, M.K., & Larimer, M.E. (2014). Relative efficacy of mindfulness-based relapse prevention, standard relapse prevention, and treatment as usual for substance use disorders: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 71(5), 547-556.
[9] Wilson, A.D., Bravo, A.J., Pearson, M.R., & Witkiewitz, K. (2016). Finding success in failure: Using latent profile analysis to examine heterogeneity in psychosocial functioning among heavy drinkers following treatment. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 30(6), 705-716; Li, W., Howard, M.O., Garland, E.L., McGovern, P., & Lazar, M. (2017). Mindfulness treatment for substance misuse: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 75, 62-96.
[10] Samuelson, M., Carmody, J., Kabat-Zinn, J., & Bratt, M.A. (2007). Mindfulness-based stress reduction in Massachusetts correctional facilities. The Prison Journal, 87(2), 254-268.
[11] Wilson, A.D., Bravo, A.J., Pearson, M.R., & Witkiewitz, K. (2016). Mindfulness-based interventions for addictive behaviors: Implementation issues on the road ahead. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 30(8), 888-896. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5714676/
[12] Brewer, J.A., Worhunsky, P.D., Gray, J.R., Tang, Y.Y., Weber, J., & Kober, H. (2011). Meditation experience is associated with differences in default mode network activity and connectivity. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108(50), 20254-20259.
[13] Hölzel, B.K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerramsetti, S.M., Gard, T., & Lazar, S.W. (2011). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 191(1), 36-43.
[14] Jha, A.P., Morrison, A.B., Dainer-Best, J., Parker, S., Rostrup, N., & Stanley, E.A. (2015). Minds "at attention": Mindfulness training curbs attentional lapses in military cohorts. PLoS ONE, 10(2), e0116889.
[15] Maull, F. (Interviewer). (2023, April 27). Mindfulness and Addiction with Marshall Lane [Audio podcast episode]. In Prison Mindfulness Podcast. Prison Mindfulness Institute. https://www.prisonmindfulness.org/news/mindfulness-and-addiction-with-marshall-lane
[16] Perelman, A.M., Miller, S.L., Clements, C.B., Rodriguez, A., Allen, K., & Cavitt, R. (2012). Meditation in a deep south prison: A longitudinal study of the effects of Vipassana. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 51(3), 176-198.