Addiction (General)

Addiction (General) refers to problematic patterns involving substance use or behaviors, in which a person may experience craving, dependence, continued use, or withdrawal symptoms. Examples described in this context include tobacco use, cocaine-related addiction, and gaming-related craving.

Learn how Addiction (General) is categorized in this wellness reference.

13What may help

This list shows research findings, not treatments. Nothing here replaces medical care. If you have this condition, talk to a doctor.

What may help

What studies found for each option, best evidence first.

13 options:6 some evidence1 mixed4 not enough evidence1 not tested in people1 no benefit found

What studies foundSize of effect

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)practiceSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 5 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
Pooled randomized trials found that complete-case smoking cessation outcomes favored ACT over comparison treatments. A separate within-group study reported improved psychological flexibility and improvement in 9 of 10 executive functions; these findings concern smoking and executive function, rather than addiction generally.
Open the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) page
CardiopracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded described different exercise types as having benefits in different domains among people with substance use disorders. An RCT involving 40 adolescents with smartphone addiction found that acute aerobic exercise improved performance on Stroop and 2-back tasks and changed EEG oscillatory activity.
Open the Cardio page
Hatha YogapracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 3 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A meta-analysis of randomized trials in adults using tobacco, excluding vaping, found a non-significant but directionally positive pooled estimate for 7PPA. A review of 8 randomized trials involving adults with tobacco, alcohol, opioid, or undefined substance use disorders reported improvements in anxiety, pain, or substance use in most studies.
Open the Hatha Yoga page
YogapracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
5 of 6 studies found a benefit; 1 found none.
Open the Yoga page
MeditationpracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
Open the Meditation page
PilatespracticeSome evidence it helpsSize of effect: Not known
Some human studies found a benefit. More research could change this.
All 2 studies with a clear result found a benefit.
A 2025 systematic review reported that one randomized trial in adolescents with Internet Addiction found reduced anxiety and depression subscale scores with Pilates combined with narrative therapy. A 2025 randomized controlled trial in 43 drug-dependent people undergoing rehabilitation found improvements in physical and mental health outcomes.
Open the Pilates page
QigongpracticeMixed resultsSize of effect: Not known
Studies disagree: some found a benefit, others found none. Do not count on it.
3 of 4 studies found a benefit; 1 found none.
A pooled analysis of nine randomized trials reported reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms. A separate trial involving 96 female drug-rehabilitation participants reported improvements in relapse tendency, sleep quality, and choice reaction time; a subgroup analysis did not find a participant-type interaction (P-interaction = 0.203).
Open the Qigong page
AcupuncturepracticeNot enough evidence
Too few or too small studies to know if it works.
The one study found a benefit.
A pooled network analysis of 35 randomized trials reported improvements in withdrawal, anxiety, and depression symptoms; certainty was described as low to moderate.
Open the Acupuncture page

Show all 13

The expert view shows every study, dose protocol and source.

What may help

Interventions recorded as helping with this condition13 listed

Most likely to help, from the evidence we have

PracticesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)CertaintyMediumSourceRCT
Pooled randomized trials found that complete-case smoking cessation outcomes favored ACT over comparison treatments. A separate within-group study reported improved psychological flexibility and improvement in 9 of 10 executive functions; these findings concern smoking and executive function, rather than addiction generally.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Addiction
Study result
Pooled complete-case cessation outcomes favour ACT over comparators in smokers across 19 RCTs.
Open Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
→
PracticesCardioCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A pooled analysis whose designs were not recorded described different exercise types as having benefits in different domains among people with substance use disorders. An RCT involving 40 adolescents with smartphone addiction found that acute aerobic exercise improved performance on Stroop and 2-back tasks and changed EEG oscillatory activity.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Study result
Network meta-analysis of 57 RCTs (2,922 patients with substance use disorders); authors conclude different exercise types exert therapeutic effects in their respective advantage domains and provide evidence for personalized exercise prescriptions, although all aerobic-network pairwise comparisons we
Open Cardio
→
PracticesHatha YogaCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A meta-analysis of randomized trials in adults using tobacco, excluding vaping, found a non-significant but directionally positive pooled estimate for 7PPA. A review of 8 randomized trials involving adults with tobacco, alcohol, opioid, or undefined substance use disorders reported improvements in anxiety, pain, or substance use in most studies.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Addiction
Study result
Pooled RCTs in adults using tobacco (excluding vaping) assessed yoga for cessation; the pooled 7PPA estimate was non-significant but directionally positive.
Open Hatha Yoga
→
PracticesQigongCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A pooled analysis of nine randomized trials reported reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms. A separate trial involving 96 female drug-rehabilitation participants reported improvements in relapse tendency, sleep quality, and choice reaction time; a subgroup analysis did not find a participant-type interaction (P-interaction = 0.203).
Who was studied
Healthy people and patients
Addiction
Anxiety Disorder
Depression
Study result
Meta-analysis of 9 RCTs showing significant reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms.
Open Qigong
→
PracticesYogaCertaintyMediumSourceRCT
A pooled analysis of randomized trials found the 7PPA result for Yoga as a tobacco-cessation intervention was not significant. Another pooled comparison also found no significant Yoga-versus-placebo result (SMD=-11.60, 95%CI (-28.20, 5.00)).
Who was studied
People with a condition
Addiction
Study result
Yoga evaluated as a cessation intervention in adults using tobacco; 7PPA effect non-significant.
Open Yoga
→
PracticesMeditationCertaintyMediumSourceClinical
RCT showing MM significantly reduced game craving, IAT and DSM-5 scores, and enhanced executive control network, frontostriatal, and ECN-DMN functional connectivity in IGD patients compared to PMR control
Who was studied
People with a condition
Open Meditation
→
PracticesPilatesCertaintyMediumSourceClinical
A 2025 systematic review reported that one randomized trial in adolescents with Internet Addiction found reduced anxiety and depression subscale scores with Pilates combined with narrative therapy. A 2025 randomized controlled trial in 43 drug-dependent people undergoing rehabilitation found improvements in physical and mental health outcomes.
Who was studied
Healthy people and patients
Addiction
Depression
Pms
Pregnancy
Study result
One RCT in adolescents with Internet Addiction showed significant reduction in anxiety and depression subscale scores with Pilates combined with narrative therapy.
Open Pilates
→

Low probability(5)

PracticesAcupunctureCertaintyLowSourceRCT
A pooled network analysis of 35 randomized trials reported improvements in withdrawal, anxiety, and depression symptoms; certainty was described as low to moderate.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Addiction
Study result
Pooled RCT network meta-analysis of 35 trials reporting improvements in withdrawal, anxiety and depression symptoms; certainty described as low-to-moderate.
Open Acupuncture
→
PracticesAnusara YogaCertaintyLowSourceRCT
A pooled analysis of randomized trials evaluating Yoga for tobacco cessation in adults who use tobacco found a non-significant pooled 7PPA estimate. Yoga was studied either as an adjunct or as a stand-alone intervention.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Addiction
Study result
Yoga was evaluated as an adjunct or monotherapy for tobacco cessation in adults who use tobacco, with a non-significant pooled 7PPA estimate.
Open Anusara Yoga
→
PracticesMindfulness MeditationCertaintyLowSourceClinical
An RCT involving 80 people found reduced craving, IAT, and DSM-5 scores after mindfulness meditation compared with progressive muscle relaxation; it also reported changes in functional connectivity.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Study result
RCT showing significant reductions in craving, IAT, DSM-5 scores and enhanced functional connectivity in ECN, frontostriatal pathway, and ECN-DMN after MM intervention compared to PMR control.
Open Mindfulness Meditation
→
PracticesTai ChiCertaintyLowSourceClinical
In an 8-week trial of 66 male college students, Tai Chi was associated with an MPAI post-test difference between groups (p=0.016 (95% CI −18.92 to −1.99)); inhibition partially mediated the improvement.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Addiction
Study result
8-week RCT of MTCC vs normal activity in 66 male college students; MPAI post-test between-group difference p=0.016 (95% CI −18.92 to −1.99), and inhibition partially mediated the improvement.
Open Tai Chi
→
PracticesGardening TherapyCertaintyLowSourceTheoretical
Gardening therapy is proposed as a support for addiction recovery through stress reduction, purposeful activity and improved self-esteem.
Study result
Gardening therapy supports addiction recovery by reducing stress, providing purposeful activity, and improving self-esteem.
Open Gardening Therapy
→

Very low probability(1)

PracticesSwedish (Classic) MassageCertaintyVery lowSourceClinical
Studies did not support massage for Addiction (General): an RCT involving 51 people found no overall clinically significant improvement in pain scores, although worst pain reached clinical significance at Week 8.
Who was studied
People with a condition
Addiction
Open Swedish (Classic) Massage
→

What to avoid

Interventions recorded as making it worse

Nothing in this library is currently recorded as making Addiction (General) worse. Coverage is partial, and absence here is not evidence of safety.

Browse the supplements that are written up

How to read the evidence

Evidence tier — overall strength of the evidence for the whole compound

StrongWell established — backed by strong, consistent human research.
ModerateSome genuine support, but mostly from small or lower-quality studies. Promising, not proven.
PreliminaryEarly-stage evidence — a promising hypothesis, not an established effect yet.
LimitedVery limited evidence — treat this as a hypothesis, not proof.
InsufficientNot enough good evidence to draw conclusions yet.

Certainty — how sure we can be that the effect is real

Very highVery sure — strong, consistent evidence
HighFairly sure — consistent evidence from good studies
MediumModerately sure — new studies could change this
LowNot sure — little or mixed evidence
Very lowVery unsure — almost no usable evidence

Source — where the data comes from

Meta-analysisPooled analysis of many trials — the strongest evidence
RCTRandomized controlled trial — a strong human study design
ClinicalA human clinical study
Reference knowledgeFrom general health-science or pharmacology references, not a study of this exact claim
Animal researchStudied in animals, not humans
Community reportsAggregated user reports — anecdotal signal, not evidence
TheoreticalMechanism-based reasoning, not yet tested

Study grade — quality of each underlying study (A best, D weakest)

AHigh-quality — strong, consistent human trials
BGood — solid evidence with some limitations
CModerate — limited, small, or mixed-quality studies
DWeak — preliminary, indirect, or animal-only

Confidence — how strongly the sources back a finding

A 0–100 score from study quality and agreement

Most supplement evidence is graded C–D. Read it as preliminary signal, not proof.

Full write-up

What is it

It is not limited to one substance or behavior, and the available examples do not establish that every approach applies to every form of addiction. CBD (Cannabidiol), Meditation, Flaxseed Oil, and Rhodiola Rosea have been studied in different contexts. Anyone concerned about addiction should consider discussing it with a clinician.

Evidence-backed options

The options associated with Addiction (General) cover different forms of addictive behavior and should not be read as interchangeable treatments. Clinical findings for CBD (Cannabidiol) indicate that a combination of CBD and THC in a 1:1 ratio produced more positive effects for CUDs than CBD alone. This comparison does not establish that CBD alone is effective across addiction types.

Meditation was studied in an active-controlled randomized trial involving game craving. It produced lower post-treatment craving than progressive muscle relaxation, with reportedly similar improvements in IAT and DSM-5 scores and changes involving executive-control, frontostriatal, and OFC-precune systems. The information provided does not establish how quickly these effects appeared or how long they persisted.

For Flaxseed Oil, the studied approach was 10 ml taken daily for six months. Findings suggested potential reductions in daily tobacco use, tobacco dependence, and craving, along with modulation of withdrawal symptoms. Rhodiola Rosea has much thinner support: animal studies indicated that its benefits for cocaine addiction would seem to be limited, so applicability to people is uncertain.

Overall, the evidence spans specific behaviors and substances rather than Addiction (General) as a single condition. Apart from the six-month Flaxseed Oil period, durations and onset times are not specified here, and the findings should not be generalized beyond the populations and outcomes studied. Consultation with a clinician is appropriate for any medical condition involving addiction.