Breathing Interventions May Curb Cravings With Substance Use

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Controlled breathing interventions can lessen cravings in people who use substances, according to a study published online July 29 in Addiction.

Ariel Dart Roxburgh, Ph.D., from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to examine the effectiveness of controlled breathing and heart rate variability biofeedback interventions in improving substance use-related outcomes.

Based on 15 studies included in the meta-analysis, the researchers found that breathing-based interventions produced lower craving than controls, with a small but statistically significant and consistent effect (Hedge”s g = 0.30; heterogeneity [I²]= 23.5 percent; 12 studies; 696 participants). For withdrawal symptoms, the effects were uncertain versus controls (g = 0.46; I² = 89.7 percent; four studies; 289 participants). Larger effects were seen for substance dependence versus control (g = 0.85; I² = 70.9 percent; two studies; 144 participants). No differences were seen between types of breathing intervention for craving outcomes. The positive effects were consistent across substances, including nicotine, alcohol, opiates, stimulants, other substances, and polysubstance use.

“Our review suggests that breathing interventions can be an effective and low-cost add-on to addiction treatment,” Roxburgh said in a statement. “With more than three-quarters of the world’s population owning a mobile phone, the potential benefits of low-cost smartphone-assisted breathing interventions are substantial.”

One author disclosed financial ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text