Managing Substance Use Disorder through a Walking/Running Training Program

Chia-Liang Dai; Ching-Chen Chen; George B Richardson; Howard R D Gordon

doi:10.1177/1178221820936681

Managing Substance Use Disorder through a Walking/Running Training Program

Subst Abuse. 2020 Jul 6:14:1178221820936681. doi: 10.1177/1178221820936681. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Chia-Liang Dai¹, Ching-Chen Chen², George B Richardson³, Howard R D Gordon¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Teaching and Learning, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA.
² Department of Counselor Education, School Psychology, and Human Services, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, USA.
³ School of Human Services, University of Cincinnati, USA.

Abstract

While emerging studies have demonstrated the benefit of exercise in Substance Use Disorder (SUD) recovery outcomes, lack of motivation to engage in exercise has been indicated as one of many perceived barriers that contribute to low recruitment and adherence rates in SUD treatment. The current study aimed to explore participants' perceptions of attending a supervised exercise program (boot camp workouts, walking/running practice, and a race event) while in treatment for SUD. A total of 109 participants were recruited to a 14-week exercise training program and 61 chose to participate in, and completed, a race at the close of the program. Interviews were conducted during weeks 6 through 14 and data were examined using Thematic Analysis. Three main themes were identified: (1) pushing forward recovery through running, (2) gaining a sense of achievement by crossing the finish line, and (3) building a sense of belonging in the program. Implications for SUD recovery programs are discussed.

Keywords: boot camp workouts; relapse prevention; substance use disorder; supervised exercise program.