Article: Can Exercise Help People Stay Clean And Sober?

"The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has given a $15.7 million award to the UT Southwestern Medical Center to explore the possibility of consistent exercise helping people abstain from stimulant abuse.

            Participants are patients in community-based residential treatment facilities for abuse of or dependence on stimulants, such as cocaine, methamphetamines and amphetamines. They have been divided into two groups – one receiving 21 to 30 days of residential treatment followed by outpatient treatment – plus three supervised sessions of vigorous treadmill exercise per week for three months. Vigorous exercise is defined as the equivalent of walking 4 mph for 30 minutes three times a week for a person weighing about 175 pounds. The second group is receiving usual care plus time spent getting information on health-related matters."

 "Jennifer Dewey, Director of the Betty Ford Center Fitness Department, said, “I do not believe ‘exercise’ will ever take the place of getting good 12 Step treatment.  I define good treatment as not just getting sober but actually understanding the spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social and physical dimensions of who we really are.  It is the whole concept of mind, body and spirit."

            She went on to say she tells patients often that “exercise will not get you sober, but it can help keep you sober!  So by exercising, you are developing those healthy coping skills that can impact and change your life forever.  Maintaining an exercise program can provide structure, discipline and a huge sense of enjoyment and accomplishment – all of which are incredibly valuable to a lifestyle working a good recovery program."

Source: http://www.bettyfordcenter.org/

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