Effects of a Two-Month Exercise Training Program on Concurrent Non-Opiate Substance Use in Opioid-Dependent Patients during Substitution Treatment

Abstract

Background: This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effects of a two-month exercise intervention on the concurrent non-opiate substance use (alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, and benzodiazepines) in opioid users during their medication treatment. Methods: Ninety opioid users (41 females) in methadone and buprenorphine medication treatment were randomly divided into four groups: (a) buprenorphine experimental (BEX; n = 26, aged 41.9 ± 6.1 yrs); (b) buprenorphine control (BCON; n = 25, aged 41.9 ± 5.6 yrs); (c) methadone experimental (MEX; n = 20, aged 46.7 ± 6.6 yrs); and (d) methadone control (MCON; n = 19, aged 46.1 ± 7.5 yrs). The experimental groups (BEX and MEX) followed an aerobic exercise training program on a treadmill for 20 min at 70% HRmax, 3 days/week for 8 weeks. Socio-demographic, anthropometric, and clinical characteristics, as well as non-opioid drug use in days and quantity per week, were assessed before and after the intervention period. Results: Following the exercise training, the weekly non-opioid substance consumption (days) decreased (p p > 0.05) between the control groups (BCON vs. MCON) or compared to their baseline levels. Similarly, the daily amount of non-opiate substance intake was reduced (p p > 0.05) in BCON and MCON compared to the baseline. Conclusions: The two-month exercise intervention reduced the non-opioid drug use in both the methadone and buprenorphine substitution groups compared to the controls, suggesting that aerobic exercise training may be an effective strategy for treating patients with OUDs.

Keywords

• aerobic exercise
• exercise training
• non-opiate substance abuse
• concurrent use
• opioid users
• medication for opioid use disorders