Meditation Subculture and Drug Use

Abstract

The present study reports into the effectiveness of an organized meditation program in controlling drug use among its members. Subjects were 230 young men and women from Canada. A ten-page self-report questionnaire *was used and only the data relating to drug use are presented here. It is seen that within 3 months of joining this group, 82% of cannabis users and 61% of psychedelic users stopped taking drugs. Very substantial reduction in use of alcohol and tobacco also took place. It has been hypothesized that the group meditation program, which possesses characteristics of a subculture rather than meditation practice per se, is responsible for this reduction in drug use.