The Role of Physical Activity in Treatment of Substance Use Disorders

Abstract

This chapter discusses the role of physical activity in treatment of substance use disorders. Exercise in general (reported level of participation in sports, athletics, or exercising) was associated with lower prevalence of middle and high school alcohol use, binge drinking, cigarette use, smokeless tobacco use, marijuana use, and steroid use; in contrast, athletic team participation (extent of participating in school athletic teams) was associated with lower rates of marijuana and cigarette use in middle school and higher rates of alcohol use, binge drinking, and steroid use in high school. The information in this chapter under scores the fact that the study of physical activity as drug abuse prevention is in its infancy. In fact there is little information regarding the efficacy of physical activity as an approach for drug abuse prevention in the research literature. However, over the past 20 years of prevention research using rigorous experimental designs, much has been learned about a wide range of other approaches that may be useful in making the case that physical activity is an approach worth investing time and effort in exploring (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2003). For example, the authors have learned that interactive, psycho-social educational approaches can be effective and that information-only, motivational testimonials, and scare tactics are not effective. One can infer from this information that a physical activity approach comprised of motivational speeches or testimonials by professional athletes who have learned difficult lessons about drug use through personal experiences will not be effective. Alternately, interactive physical activity approaches that use a psychosocial educational approach and incorporate appropriate anti-drug information may be very effective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)