Mindfulness for at Risk Youth: Understanding Substance Use and Important Mechanisms of Change

"Individuals assigned to the experimental group will receive interventions normally provided at the clinic and eight 1.5-hour group sessions of MBRP. Each sessions will occur once per week and will target a specific theme such as being aware of personal triggers, maintaining present focus, allowing or letting things be, responding to emotional and physical experiences in skillful ways, and recognizing intrusive thoughts. Each session will incorporate a mindfulness meditation technique (e.g.,SOBER breathing space and urge surfing). Participants will receive materials (e.g., recordings) with which to perform practices and meditation during the intervention phase."

Individuals assigned to the CTL group will receive interventions provided at the clinic and up to eight CTL sessions. The CTL group will receive information (reading) and videos once per week on health behaviors (e.g., exercise, eating) and the neurobiology of addiction. This approach will reduce the possibility that intervention effects are solely due to the experimental group's receiving extra attention. In contrast to the active intervention, sessions will be educational in nature, with no motivational, cognitive, or behavioral components