G. Alan Marlatt is the developer of Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention, developed specifically for the treatment of addictions. He coined the term "urge surfing" (i.e. watching arising & passing) of the addictive cravings as they occur in the body. Marlatt is not just a clinician but a long-term meditator and has taken refuge in the Dharma. He's studied with Jack Kornfeld, Pema Chodron, and S.N. Goenka.
Here's an interview he did with Inquiring Mind:
http://www.inquiringmind.com/Articles/S ... eUrge.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This is an abstract of his article "Buddhist philosophy and the treatment of addictive behavior" (Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, Vol 9(1), Win, 2002. pp. 44-49.):
"Provides an overview of how Buddhist philosophy can be applied in the treatment of individuals with substance abuse problems (alcohol, smoking, and illicit drug use) and other addictive behaviors (e.g., compulsive eating and gambling). First, the author describes the background of his own interest in meditation and Buddhist psychology, followed by a brief summary of his prior research on the effects of meditation on alcohol consumption in heavy drinkers. In the 2nd section, the author outlines some of the basic principles of Buddhist philosophy that provide a theoretical underpinning for defining addiction, how it develops, and how it can be alleviated.
The 3rd and final section presents 4 principles within Buddhist psychology that have direct implications for the cognitive-behavioral treatment of addictive behavior: mindfulness meditation, the Middle Way philosophy, the Doctrine of Impermanence, and compassion and the Eightfold Noble Path. Clinical interventions and case examples are described for each of these 4 principles based on the author's research and clinical practice with clients seeking help for resolving addictive behavior problems."
