The effects of exercise on secondary drug consumption of individuals undergoing heroin-assisted treatment

One of the most successful drug addiction treatments in Switzerland, in regard to
psychological, physiological and social stability of patients, is the so-called heroinassisted
treatment. Despite this treatment’s success, patients still consume
addictive and hazardous substances like cocaine, alcohol, tobacco, illicit heroin
and more outside their treatment clinic, so-called secondary drugs.
The aim of this research is to investigate whether an intervention implementing a
sport program has an influence on secondary drug consumption for patients in
heroin-assisted treatment. Most of the studies investigating similar research fields,
lack in methodological precision and are in need of further scientific evidence.
This study applied a parallel-group controlled randomized trial, which included
three measuring points. Those took place at the beginning, after 6 weeks and
directly following the 12-week intervention. 24 participants either committed to a
sport (n=13) or a control (n=11) program that took place twice a week lasting 60 to
75 minutes each.
Results have shown that this kind of investigation is feasible and comparable to
similar studies in that field. Results indicate that more participants from the sport
group reduced their drug consumption than participants from the control group.
The small sample size does not allow for generalizable effects of exercise on drug
consumption. A majority of participants maintained their drug use, which may
reflect the difficulties of altering incisive long-lasting drug use patterns.
Key words: substitution therapy, heroin-assisted treatment, secondary drugs,
addiction, exercise, sport intervention, controlled randomization