Exercise as a Potential Treatment for Drug Abuse

Evidence from Preclinical Studies

Bibliographic Data

ID15518554
AuthorsMark A Smith (0000-0003-1474-5225, Davidson College, corresponding author), Wendy Lynch (0000-0003-4420-6150, University of Virginia Health System), Wendy J Lynch
Year2012
Volume2
Pages82-82
Publication date2012-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00082
PMID22347866
PMCIDPMC3276339
OpenAlexW2054764555
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited11

Epidemiological studies reveal that individuals who engage in regular aerobic exercise are less likely to use and abuse illicit drugs. Until recently, very few studies had examined the causal influences that mediate this relationship, and it was not clear whether exercise was effective at reducing substance use and abuse. In the past few years, several preclinical studies have revealed that exercise reduces drug self-administration in laboratory animals. These studies have revealed that exercise produces protective effects in procedures designed to model different transitional phases that occur during the development of, and recover from, a substance use disorder (e.g., acquisition, maintenance, escalation, and relapse/reinstatement of drug use). Moreover, recent studies have revealed several behavioral and neurobiological consequences of exercise that may be responsible for its protective effects in these assays. Collectively, these studies have provided convincing evidence to support the development of exercise-based interventions to reduce compulsive patterns of drug intake in clinical and at-risk populations

Drug · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Substance abuse · Clinical Psychology · Hormonal and reproductive studies · Medicine · Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior · Pharmacological Effects and Assays · Psychology

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