Exercise May Help Treat Cannabis Dependence
May 5th, 2011 | by J.Marcu |Given the lack of FDA approved medications for the treatment of drug use, exercise may represent a form of behavioral modification suitable to treat different forms of drug dependence. Building up a “Runner’s High” from intense exercise may overwrite pathways in the brain by reinforcing the body’s natural reward system.
A group of subjects who smoked an average of 5.9 joints a day, reduced their daily intake of Cannabis to an average of 2.8 joints a day during the exercise portion of the experiment.
This data agrees with existing scientific evidence which demonstrates the positive effects of exercise on reducing drug craving. Given the low cost of exercise it could represent a treatment accessible to people who do not have access to health insurance or have failed to receive HMO approval for drug abuse medications. More studies are needed to confirm the benefits of exercise on drug dependence…[Read More]
By Ed on May 18, 2011
I have a very hard time believing that cannabis dependence even exists. Where are the objective withdrawal signs as seen in people dependent on benzodiazepines or opioids?
By Kara Nug on Oct 18, 2011
With increased exercise comes a whole slew of potential reasons that people are curbing their marijuana cravings. Like Ed, I wonder if they were able to prove during this if marijuana dependance actually is a true issue, or if the individuals’ use just dropped due to focus on other new physical activities.