Yoga module that can reduce opioid addiction

The yoga module, developed by the Centre for Yoga Integration at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), can be used as a low-cost, low-risk adjunctive therapy to reduce substance use in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD).

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, opioids are natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic chemicals that interact with opioid receptors in the body and brain, reducing the perception of pain.

“Opioid use disorder is a severe substance use disorder. People may be dependent on prescription opioids (drugs like codeine, tramadol, tapentadol and morphine) that are often prescribed to relieve pain, or on street opioids (heroin, brown sugar, etc.),” ​​the agency said.

It added that the body can become accustomed to opioids, causing severe withdrawal symptoms, including watery eyes and nose, severe body aches, flu-like symptoms, insomnia, anxiety and irritability. Chronic use can lead to cognitive decline, sexual dysfunction, severe impairment in social and occupational functioning, and increased economic burden.

In order to find alternatives to opioids for pain control, Dr Hemant Bhargav from NIMHANS Integrative Yoga Centre conducted a study to develop a yoga module to reduce the use of opioids.

The Yoga for Substance Use module, developed with the support of DST’s Science and Technology in Yoga and Meditation (SATYAM) program, was tested for feasibility of application through distance mode and inter-therapist reliability was established.

Yoga has been shown to increase gamma aminobutyric acid levels and oxytocin in the brain, which may contribute to managing opioid withdrawal symptoms and reducing relapse. Yoga has also been shown to increase frontal lobe activation, reducing impulsivity and improving self-control, helping to promote positive behavioral change.

An initial clinical case study with nine months of follow-up showed that the module was suitable for bringing relief to patients suffering from opioid addiction.

They then conducted a randomized controlled trial in which 60 participants were split into two groups: one group did yoga in addition to standard care, and the other group did exercise in addition to standard care.

After 12 weeks of intervention, subjects in the yoga group were observed to be 2.68 times more likely to have a negative urine test for opioids than those in the exercise group.