The use of meditation and yoga as a treatment tool for juvenile offenders in Residential Treatment Centers for relapse prevention

Although crime has continued to decline over the last decade, the incarceration of minority youth happens at higher rates compared to their white counterparts. Incarcerated youth face trauma at high rates. Trauma can impact an individual\u27s behavior and response to stress. Many incarcerated youth have substance use disorders (SUDs) and a relapse of substance use can result in a relapse of criminal behavior. When a youth is heavily immersed within the juvenile justice system, they are often placed within residential treatment centers (RTC). There are minimal treatment approaches that are successful within RTCs; they do not address the difficulty the youth faces transitioning home. Often the treatment a youth experiences is not beneficial in helping the youth cope with their SUD and the trauma they experience within the residential treatment. The research examines the implementation of yoga and meditation with evidence based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an alternative to currently used treatments. Implementing yoga and mindfulness could not only help the youth cope with their addiction, but also the stress of incarceration. In past studies, youth who participated in similar programs found relief from cravings, stress, and other negative feelings. Further research is needed within residential treatment settings to determine other beneficial outcomes yoga and mindfulness could pose for at risk minority yout