Study shows how music may help tackle addiction
New research has found evidence that music can alter how the brain processes emotions in people receiving treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and reduce their cravings.
A recent study published in the journal Addiction Neuroscience has found that music therapy may help reduce cravings and support recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University's Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research conducted the pilot study involving 16 adults with alcohol and drug use disorders, such as heroin, cocaine and cannabis.
Participants received either six weekly music therapy sessions, either in group or one-on-one settings, or standard treatment alone. The study found that those who received music therapy reported significantly lower levels of craving immediately after sessions compared to the control group. EEG recordings revealed lower frontal beta activity, which is associated with craving, in participants who received music therapy.
Additionally, the study identified differences in the frontal areas of the brain responsible for processing positive and negative emotions, suggesting that music therapy may help individuals better control emotions like anger and frustration that could otherwise lead to uncontrolled behavior. The researchers emphasize that while these findings are promising, larger and longer-term studies are needed to confirm the results.
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