Race against addictions

• May 2, 2024

According to a study of National Institute against Addiction of the United States , do exercise, as run, can help treat and possibly prevent drug addiction , since the release of endorphins during the physical activity could modify the dependence from the brain.

To rehabilitate, addicts often have to give up their previous life habits, such as social habits, including any friends that consume. During their recovery, they have a lot of free time and little support, that's when exercise It could be very useful to combat drug addiction.

A large number of studies show that the exercise vigorous can trigger sensations of happiness, tranquility, euphoria and creativity, according to Carmen Sánchez Mora and María Emilia Beyer, biologists and researchers from the General Directorate for the Dissemination of Science of the UNAM.

In this regard, specialists explain that these sensations can last from a few minutes to several hours after having carried out heavy physical activities.

During the exercise they are released endorphins , which are natural substances synthesized by the brain that, among other things, alleviate pain as only opiates can, which include morphine, heroin and codeine. However, they do not have the side effects that drugs bring to the nervous system.

The zones of brain involved in the release of endorphins to produce analgesia are found in the brain and mesencephalon; however, the consumption of drugs can inhibit their natural production.

In addition to the intoxication and side effects that drugs produce, they prevent a person from having a natural response against pain and stress, which leads to greater consumption and addiction.

Drugs act and generate, at least at the beginning, a sense of well-being, that's why the brain he does not readily accept that the drug be withdrawn. A dependency has been created in which the organism needs the sensations of analgesia and euphoria, but it can no longer produce them in its own brain ; at least, not in the amounts in which they were administered opioids or other drugs such as alcohol and tobacco.

In this sense, as part of its rehabilitation, the groups of exercise can help fill that gap, explains Richard Brown, professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University and director of addiction research at Butler Hospital in Providencia.

Also, exercise helps improve the quality of sleep, a common problem for addicts in the early stages of recovery, as well as cognitive function, which often deteriorates drug addiction.

The exercise It also regulates anxiety, relaxes tight muscles and breathing and alters the body's biochemistry, so that mental health is generally modified.

To have access to all the benefits promoted by the exercise, aerobic routines are recommended such as walking, running, swimming and cycling, sports that substantially raise the heart rate. However, it is important to detect that our need to exercise does not exceed certain limits, otherwise, it could also generate an addiction to it.