Improving Provider Recommendation of Therapeutic Exercise in Substance Abuse Treatment

An epidemic of substance abuse in the United States is wrecking havoc on millions of people and their families. Relapse rates remain high with more than 70% of patients relapsing within the first year after initiating substance abuse treatment (Smith & Lynch, 2012). Inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment focuses on pharmacology and psychotherapy to manage addiction, which, although important, neglects lifestyle modifications that may influence sobriety. Despite continued poor outcomes for substance abuse treatment and evidence that adjunctive exercise influences long-term sobriety, only a few providers recommend it as part of treatment. This project aimed to increase providers' recommendation for patients to incorporate therapeutic exercise (TE) into substance abuse treatment through the use of educational modules. Our study results demonstrate that the educational modules presented to providers concerning the effects of TE on long-term sobriety increased their recommendation of TE to patients post-intervention as part of substance abuse treatment in the adult residential setting. Results of this study provide a preliminary indication that educational modules presented to providers and patients in adult residential treatment improved recommendation of TE as part of substance abuse treatment. These results highlight the need for implementation of adjunct therapies, such as TE, into substance abuse treatment to help address this epidemic and support recovery from substance use disorders.