Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Exercise may reduce marijuana cravings
By Staff Writer
In addition to pursuing substance abuse help for their marijuana cravings, individuals may want to buy a treadmill. The results of a recent study revealed that exercise might help curb one's dependence on the drug.
The study, which was conducted by researchers from Vanderbilt University, analyzed 12 participants who met the criteria for being cannabis-dependent and did not desire treatment.
Over a two-week period, the participants, who smoked an average of 5.9 joints per day, visited Vanderbilt five times a week to run on the treadmill.
Following each exercise session, the participants were shown pictures meant to stimulate cannabis use, then asked to rank their cravings for the drug. They were also asked to document their marijuana use.
The study found that both cravings and cannabis use decreased by more than 50 percent after 10 sessions lasting 30 minutes each. The participants reported smoking 2.8 joints per day during the two-week study.
For the researchers, these findings reinforce the idea that exercise really can change the way the brain works. As there is no way to treat a marijuana addiction using medication, they also feel that this research can provide positive results for those wishing to abstain from the substance.
