Exercise as Treatment for Substance Abuse Patients

Exercise as Treatment for Substance Abuse Patients


Introduction

Substance abuse is a global issue that is continuing to grow rapidly. Commonly known substances that fall under this category range from tobacco and alcohol, to illicit drug use. These substances can cause serious damage to one's body resulting in disability, cognitive loss, or in more serious cases premature death. Research has shown that about 70% of recovering addicts will relapse within 1 year after receiving today’s current treatments. By implementing exercise as a form of treatment or an additive to another, it can help decrease one's craving to use and benefit them in many aspects. 

Risks of Substance Abuse

  • Alcohol: Can put the user at risk for  becoming overweight or obese, developing cancer, or damage to organs such as the liver.

  • Nicotine: Nicotine can be a huge problem on the lungs, causing difficulty with breathing and potentially leading to lung cancer.

  • Illicit Drugs: can result in either fatal or non-fatal overdoses, viral infections, and even physiological problems. 

Benefits of Exercise for this Population 

  • Reduction of stressors: stressors are often what will lead one to use a substance, therefore by using exercise to decrease stress, this can help to eliminate or decrease substance use. 

  • Decrease compulsive or impulsive patterns 

  • Exercise gives a release of dopamine (our happy hormone), which is also what is released when someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Reasons to Personalize an Individual's Exercise Treatment

  • Heart rate to determine whether exercise should be aerobic or
    anaerobic

  • Personalized intensity (low or high)

  • Comorbidities to ensure health safety

  • Stress (reduction in stress can cause less impulse for relapse)

  • Environment (surroundings are key to recovery)

  • Support system (ensure reliable support systems are in place)

The Bigger Picture

Although additional studies need to be conducted, there is enough evidence to prove that therapeutic exercise has become an effective modality for these at-risk populations. Exercise treatment programs have shown that following a patient's preferences of exercise can be helpful as a guide for success. By doing things they are interested in, it can benefit them to be more engaged in their road to recovery. Exercise treatment is still a way to keep one's mind off their substance of choice, it is also going to benefit their bodies in many other aspects and give them an overall better and healthier quality of life. It should be noted that exercise is not a cure, but a supplement to fill a poor addiction with a healthier alternative. 


For more information Visit: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/stress-coping/alcohol-use.html

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-exercise-help-conquer-addiction-2018122615641

https://www.smartrecovery.org/benefits-of-exercise-in-addiction-recovery/

 

About the Author: 



Asia Taylor is a Senior at Westfield State University, majoring in Movement Science with a concentration in Sports Medicine. After graduating her goal is to obtain her Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy. Her interest in this topic comes from her experience working as a CNA in a rehabilitation/long-term care facility, in which many of her patients suffer from all forms of substance abuse. She can be contacted at Asiattaylor@gmail.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorasia/


References:

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  • Economic Cost of Substance Abuse in the United States, 2016. (2020, October 28). Retrieved November 23, 2020, from https://recoverycentersofamerica.com/economic-cost-substance-abuse/

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