CALL FOR ACTION: GUIDELINES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BASED INTERVENTIONS IN ADDICTION

Abstract

With the evidence supporting the extensive benefits of exercise for people experiencing substance use disorders (SUD) rapidly growing, the demand for clinical exercise interventions in SUD services is expanding through Australia. However, at present there are no clear safety considerations or guidelines specific to SUD, leaving exercise physiologists falling to broader guidelines when working with SUD, often using those developed for severe mental illness (SMI). When working with SUD, many considerations differ to those being treated with SMI. This includes differences in the common comorbidities seen in SUD compared to SMI, as well as considerations relating to withdrawal and craving management. Furthermore, the different impacts and considerations of each substance class in relation to exercise needs to be elucidated. Therefore, standardised safety considerations and contraindications need to be developed to allow Exercise Physiologists to provide safe and effective interventions for those in the withdrawal and recovery phase of SUD. This call for action proposes the development of a multidisciplinary informed clinical exercise guideline for safety protocols, considerations and contraindications for physical activity-based interventions within substance use disorder treatment.