Correlation of self-compassion and spiritual well-being with drug craving in people with substance use disorders

Background Globally, drug abuse is a serious and exacerbating phenomenon, not only in terms of its prevalence and its impact on individuals, families, professional and social aspects but also because of its economic and medical repercussions. Cravings, the main feature of addiction, are the drivers of continued drug abuse and a return to addiction after recovery. This research aimed to explore the relationship between self-compassion and spiritual well-being with drug cravings. This research used a descriptive correlational study design. The study sample consisted of all accessible addiction patients who had visited the outpatient clinics or were admitted to the Addiction Unit of the Psychiatry Department at Mansoura University Hospital during a 3-month period from October to December 2020. Patients were asked to respond to questionnaires assessing self-compassion, spiritual well-being, and drug craving. Results The results showed that the majority of the participants had a moderate level of self-compassion and spiritual well-being. However, drug cravings were negatively related to both self-compassion and spiritual well-being. Conclusions People with drug addiction consistently need programs to increase their self-compassion and spiritual well-being to overcome the intensity of cravings. Improving feelings of self-compassion and spiritual well-being has a positive effect in reducing craving for substance abuse among drug-addict patients.

The Effect of FGF21 and Its Genetic Variants on Food and Drug Cravings, Adipokines and Metabolic Traits

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a regulator of addictive behavior. Increasing evidence suggests an impact of FGF21 on eating behavior, food and drug cravings and on other adipokines like insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) or adiponectin. We investigated the association of serum FGF21 and genetic variants with aspects of food and drug craving and obesity related metabolic parameters including serum adipokine levels. Standardized questionnaires, blood samples and anthropometric data of the Sorbs cohort (n = 1046) were analyzed using SPSS. For genetic analyses, the FGF21-locus ±10 kb was genotyped and analyzed using PLINK. Validation was conducted in a second independent cohort (n = 704). FGF21 was significantly associated with alcohol and coffee consumption, smoking and eating behavior (disinhibition). We confirmed correlations of FGF21 serum levels with IGF-1, adiponectin, pro-enkephalin, adipocyte fatty-acid-binding protein, chemerin and progranulin. FGF21 genetic variants were associated with anthropometric and metabolic parameters, adipokines, food and drug craving while strongest evidence was seen with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). We highlight the potential role of FGF21 in food and drug cravings and provide new insights regarding the link of FGF21 with other adipokines as well as with metabolic traits, in particular those related to lipid metabolism (LDL-C).

Relationship between Emotional Disturbance, Family Conflict, Social Pressure and Drug Craving Among Former Drug Addicts

Research on drug cravings among former drug addicts is an important issue to be addressed in order to provide input to the government in an effort to prevent relapse among former drug addicts. This article aims to identify the relationship between emotional disturbance, family conflict, social pressure and drug cravings among former drug addicts. A survey study was conducted by using a cross sectional design. A total of 380 former addicts, who completed the rehabilitation program at the Cure and Care Rehabilitation Center (CCRC) and were undergoing a period of supervision by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), were selected to participate in the survey study. The data were analyzed using an inferential statistic, the Pearson Correlation test. The results showed a moderate and positive significant relationship between drug cravings and emotional disturbance (r = .703, p <0.01), family conflict (r = .540, p <0.01) and social pressure (r = .606, p <0.01) among former addicts. These findings indicated that emotional disturbance, family conflict and social pressure that experienced by former addicts should be tackled by the stakeholders as it has a significant relationship with cravings, which may lead to relapse among former addicts.

Managing Cravings and Urges to Use Substances

A craving or longing for alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs is common, especially in the early weeks and months of stopping substance use, regardless of how motivated clients are to stay substance-free. Cravings are mediated by brain activation in the amygdala region. Cravings can be activated by exposure to drug cues via classical conditioning. Memories associated with substance use can trigger a craving. Usually, cravings decrease in frequency and intensity as recovery progresses and the client abstains from substance use. The objectives of this chapter are to help the client identify and label a craving to use substances, to teach the client to monitor and rate the level of intensity of cravings, to identify internal and external factors that trigger cravings, and to teach cognitive, behavioral, environmental, and interpersonal strategies to manage alcohol or drug cravings.