Yoga based intervention can reduce opioid dependence

Opiods:

• Opioids are natural, semi-synthetic, or synthetic chemicals that interact with opioid receptors in the body and brain and reduce perception of pain.
• While the terms opioids and opiates are sometimes used interchangeably.
• Opiate refers specifically to natural compounds derived from the poppy plant, such as heroin or morphine, while opioids may be natural or derived in a lab.
• Opioid use disorder is a severe substance use disorder.
• Dependence may be on prescription opioids (drugs such as codeine, morphine) often given to ameliorate pain or street opioids (such as heroin, brown sugar).
• The body becomes used to opioids and it can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms such as watering through eyes and nose, severe body aches, flu-like symptoms, sleeplessness, anxiety and irritability. With chronic use, it can cause impairment in cognition, sexual dysfunction, severe impairment of social and occupational functions and adds to the financial burden.
• In order to find an alternative to opioids for pain control, a study to develop a yoga module to reduce opioid use was carried out by National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore. * The yoga for substance use module developed with support from Science and Technology of Yoga and Meditation (SATYAM) programme of DST was tested for feasibility of application through tele-mode and inter-therapist reliability was established.
• In the initial clinical case study with 9-month follow-up, the module was found suitable for bringing relief to patients suffering from opioid dependence.
• The study suggested that yoga can be a useful add-on tool to enhance abstinence and reduce substance use severity in the people with opioid dependence.
• Besides, the yoga had significantly better reduction in pain, craving, anxiety and depression and better improvement in quality of life and quality of sleep
• Thus, yoga may be used as a low-cost and low-risk adjunct therapy to reduce substance use