Can Running Replace Addiction?

Running is a substance-free pleasure that may boost mood, help alleviate cravings and mental health symptoms

- 

Addiction is a widespread health issue that affects about one in five people worldwide. Treating addiction can be challenging because different approaches work for different people. Some provinces are considering forced treatments, doubling down on approaches that have shown limited success. Social work researchers in addiction and sport believe it is time to consider alternative approaches. On the surface, overcoming addiction may appear as simple as choosing not to sip, smoke, or snort a substance. However, it is more complex. Addiction is a relationship with a substance. Seen this way, recovery can be understood as a process of learning to move forward from the relationship, which requires adapting to a life without it.

Research suggests exercise might help with recovery from addiction. It is a substance-free pleasure that might boost mood and help alleviate cravings and mental health symptoms, which could protect against relapse. Even though there are running groups for people in recovery, most research has been done on treadmills in clinics during addiction treatment. This leaves questions about how people use running in their recovery processes over time, who benefits, and why.

Researchers at the University of Ottawa adopted an approach they hoped would provide context. They wanted to understand how running helped people make the transition from using drugs or alcohol to a life without them. For example:

• How did running experiences build up over time to the point where these came to replace drugs or alcohol?