The intense flashbacks, anxiety, and depression associated with PTS lead many veterans to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol, placing them at high risk for substance abuse. Several published studies have found the TM technique to be a very effective method for reducing substance abuse.
Decreased Alcohol Abuse Among Veterans
Through the Transcendental Meditation technique
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 13–87, 1994
In this study, conducted in a Denver Veterans Center, Vietnam veterans suffering from PTS were randomly assigned to TM or conventional counseling. After three months of practice, the TM group had reduced its alcohol consumption by 40 percent, while the control group remained unchanged.
Chart 1 of 2
Reduced Cigarette Use
Through the Transcendental Meditation technique
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 11: 13–87, 1994
This meta-analysis compared all research studies on the Transcendental Meditation program related to cigarette smoking to meta-analyses of standard treatment and prevention programs for smoking. The study found a significantly greater reduction in cigarette use among those who learned Transcendental Meditation, even though the technique does not involve any guidance about change in lifestyle or habits.
In addition to reductions in cigarette smoking, this meta-analysis found a significantly greater reduction in alcohol and drug abuse among those who learned the Transcendental Meditation program as compared to other treatment programs.
Chart 2 of 2
