Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention

Abstract

The term "substance use disorders" encompasses a wide-range of problems. Such a diagnosis can accurately describe individuals who regularly smoke cigarettes, as well as chronic alcoholics and/or drug addicts. In many cases, substance abuse and dependence are associated with negative personal, social, occupational, and/or legal consequences, which can lead individuals to seek treatment. In fact, according to facilities that report to State administrative data systems, there were nearly 1.8 million admissions for treatment of alcohol and drug abuse in 2006 (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2009). Recently, the focus of substance use treatment has begun to shift towards promoting global health and wellness changes as part of the recovery process. For example, health-care providers often encourage lifestyle changes, e.g., increased physical activity to facilitate psychological and physical recovery in persons with substance use disorders. Physical activity is a particularly appealing treatment option as it is easily accessible, low cost, and can be pursued on one's own schedule. In this chapter, we provide an overview on substance use treatment, discuss the potential benefits of incorporating physical activity into such programs, and then examine the research literature on physical activity as an intervention for substance use disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)