“The Power of Exercise in Addiction Recovery: A Comparative Study of Treatment Programs”

Studies have shown that exercise such as jogging or weight training can help with addiction recovery. The Washington Post (WP) recently reported the results of a study that added exercise is helpful in treating addiction to various drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol.

A research team at the University of Montreal published the results of a comparative analysis of drug addiction treatment studies that included exercise prescriptions and drug addiction treatment studies that did not include exercise prescriptions in the international journal PLOS One. A comprehensive analysis of 43 existing studies involving 3135 patients suffering from

The exercise routines prescribed by these studies varied, but generally included light jogging three times a week, weight training, walking, yoga, and cycling. Patients who exercised consistently stopped or reduced their medication, but patients who did not exercise failed to reduce their medication.

So, how does exercise affect the addicted brain? The research team said, “After exercising, I immediately feel better, and over time, it reduces depression and anxiety that cause addiction. Exercise also helps repair the brain that has been damaged by drug use.”

Excessive use of drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and alcohol killed brain cells or reduced neurogenesis, the process of creating new nerve cells (neurons), whereas exercise also enhanced neurogenesis and the health of existing neurons.

But the most interesting result of exercise is that it changes the brain’s reward system related to what we enjoy, want, and pursue.

Most drug use intensifies the production and uptake of dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in reward processing. As a result, drug abusers feel better and want bigger and stronger things.

But exercise manipulates dopamine signals in the brain, making exercise more pleasurable than drug use.

The research team concluded that although the ideal type and amount of exercise for addiction recovery remains uncertain, incorporating exercise into an addiction recovery program would be a very meaningful endeavor.