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Meta-analysis on the effects of Transcendental Meditation on addictive behavior: the reduction of substance abuse
by Global Good News staff writer

Global Good News    Translate This Article
27 December 2007

Concluding his presentation in a recent Global Family Chat on the Maharishi Channel, Dr Michael Dillbeck, Raja (Administrator) of France for the Global Country of World Peace and the world's leading expert on the scientific research on Maharishi's Transcendental Meditation Programme, spoke about meta-analyses done on the effects of the Transcendental Meditation Programme and substance abuse.

Please also see previous articles on blood pressure, indicators of deep physiological rest, and reduced anxiety and self-actualization.

Dr Dillbeck said that a meta-analysis published in 1994 looked at the effects of several different measures on addictive behaviours—'things people do to reduce imbalance in their physiology and feelings.' This was a meta-analysis of 12 different studies on the effects of Transcendental Meditation on cigarette smoking. This analysis compared other meta-analyses already published showing the effects of standard treatments for prevention. There was not much effect shown from these procedures.

In contrast to this, through the practice of Transcendental Meditation, where the reduced use of cigarettes is a spontaneous by-product of the practice, the result is significantly greater.

The second aspect of this meta-analysis was of 14 different studies on reduction of alcohol abuse. Again the comparison was between Transcendental Meditation and specific standard treatment and prevention programmes, which had little significant effect, whereas alcohol abuse naturally and spontaneously drops away with practice of the Transcendental Meditation Programme.

Dr Dillbeck said that there have also been 10 different studies on Transcendental Meditation and the use of illegal drugs. A meta-analysis of these studies compared to a separate meta-analysis on the effect of standard prevention programmes, showed little effect of these standard programmes and a statistically greater effect for Transcendental Meditation.

'There are two signficant conclusions from the effects on substance abuse: the reduced use of these substances was the spontaneous result of growing self-sufficiency, growing balance in the physiology, awareness, and psychology,' said Dr Dillbeck. 'People did not feel the need for anything for balancing or calming them. It's a spontaneous rise of balance in the physiology, leading to behaviour that is health-promoting, in harmony in Natural Law.'

The second point, technically in this meta-analysis, is what is called the 'time course' of the effects of Transcendental Meditation. Dr Dillbeck explained that ordinarily someone goes to a treatment facility for a course, there is an immediate improvement but after some weeks, because balance is not created in the physiology, then people have a tendency to fall back. So the result in all of these different studies for standard prevention programmes is that there is some immediate effect that then decays. The result falls off over time.

'The result with Transcendental Meditation is exactly the opposite,' said Dr Dillbeck. The person does not begin the practice for the effect but naturally these behaviours fall off over time as balance is growing and over time the effect becomes stronger and stronger. 'There is no attempt to try to force but it is the spontaneous result of life growing more and more in harmony with Natural Law.'

'The crucial issue of all these meta-analyses is that all these effects are profoundly unique,' Dr Dillbeck concluded. 'As shown by scientific research, there is nothing else that has the effect of Maharishi's Trancendental Meditation in creating this ability to grow spontaneously in harmony with Natural Law.'

For a comprehensive review of the scientific research conducted on the Transcendental Meditation Programme, please see peer reviewed research and an annotated bibliography of scientific research.

Copyright © 2007 Global Good News(sm) Service.

Global Good News comment:

For information about Maharishi's seven-point programme to create a healthy, happy, prosperous society, and a peaceful world, please visit: Global Financial Capital of New York.



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