The vast majority of us Irish do enjoy the occasional few drinks. However, what’s often swept under the carpet in terms of media coverage is the substance abuse problem, especially alcohol, we have in Ireland. Thousands of Irish people are affected directly and indirectly by alcoholism. Professor Frank Murray of Alcohol Action Ireland spoke regarding the alcohol problem in Ireland and said: “If this was the World Cup we’d be in the semi-final”.
There are various different treatment centres in Ireland which offer a wide variety of different services varying from psychotherapy to therapy through drama.
Facilities such as Aiséirí and the Rutland Centre in Dublin as well as various psychiatric facilities are in place for people recovering from addictions to undergo different treatment plans.
One thing that should be a core part of every alcohol treatment plan is sufficient exercise therapy.
Why? Here are 4 reasons.
#1: BOOST DOPAMINE LEVELS
This is where exercise comes in.
Exercise boosts the body’s dopamine levels. On simple terms, the addictive pathways of the brain may be able to be rewired in more positive ways and combat negative addictive behaviours. Going for a run certainly won’t give someone the same buzz as taking a drink would, but it may instil a sense of well-being, which itself may become a craving.
The mood-boosting qualities of exercise benefit people suffering from alcohol abuse. Drinking alcohol chemically alters your brain which in turn affects the way your brain can regulate mood. Therefore, a lot of alcoholics suffer from symptoms of depression and other mental health issues.
The release of endorphins during exercise can help reduce depression symptoms in addicts. Not only is exercise important for current addicts but also for people going through the early stages of recovery. People going through the early stages of withdrawals should exercise in some way, as the mood-boosting effect of physical activity can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and curb cravings.
#2: RESETS THE BODY CLOCK
Regular moderate exercise during the initial recovery stage can help regulate sleep patterns. Having a regular sleeping routine has multiple knock-on benefits, some being increased motivation and energy levels.
This increase in motivation can lead to a whole load of positive changes in someone’s self-efficacy and their belief in themselves and their recovery, which is a massive thing to have. The effects of exercise may be the catalyst in the person’s want to get better, as nobody can instil it in them. It has to come from within them.
#3: IMPROVE COGNITIVE FUNCTION
However, any article you read online about improving your brain function, exercise comes out on top. This is why, especially for current or recovering alcohol abusers, exercise is imperative in order to try and repair some of the damage which has been done to the brain.
Improving cognitive function through the recovery process is important. Research has suggested that exercise works synergistically with other aspects of an addiction recovery programme. A person who exercises regularly throughout their recovery will have a better cognitive functioning level and will benefit a lot more from one-to-one counselling and alcohol education classes, which are also common aspects of a treatment plan.
#4: IT’S CHEAPER
In a report composed by the National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE), it stated that “prospective residents” of places such as Rutland Centre and Aiséirí should not have benefited from any other form of alternative treatment undergoing one of their treatment plans.
People who are suffering from addictions and their families should not be forced to pay out thousands from the onset to undergo various programmes. For example, a 5-week residential programme in Rutland Centre in Dublin costs €11,500.
This can be as simple as GP’s and hospitals being linked with local gyms and exercise professionals to inform these people of the benefits of exercise and how it could help their recovery process, as well as the implementation of programmes. Be it for a small fee, or free, with the correct programmes and facilities in place it can be an alternative method of treating alcohol addiction.
Also, it may be perceived as a more attractive option for the person themselves than entering into a residential treatment centre would.
Community: An Addict’s First Port of Call
Therapy within local communities will be an addict’s first port of call, therefore, pumping money into making these services high quality is key. Investing money to improve these services will not only benefit the addict. The return on investment (ROI) can be huge.
There is a huge relationship between alcohol and crime. 97% of public order offences and 76% of sexual assault charges involve someone under the influence of alcohol. The weekly cost of keeping one person in an Irish prison is roughly €1800.
Investing money into alcohol education and exercise therapies in communities can reduce alcohol-related crime and in turn reduce the money the government spends on imprisonment.
Perceptions Need to Change
I asked people in my class (a Sport & Recreation Management based course, by the way) about what they think alcohol addiction therapy is and “rehab” and residential based settings were the only answers I got.
Education and information are key to change these perceptions. People simply just do not know about the benefits that exercise has in terms of treating addiction.
Being Surrounded by the Right People
People who have been abusing alcohol for years, more often than not, have developed social groups. Detaching from these people whom they have called friends is a challenge in itself, as well as the physiological element of giving up the substance.
Not only that, a chronic alcohol user often has an ‘I don’t care’ attitude about life. It’s a tough job to change this outlook. They think they can’t get better and they won’t change. But an exercise based therapy programme is an ideal setting for these people to be in.
People will not feel alone in these exercise and physical activity groups. They are surrounded by like-minded people all working towards the same goal – to be sober.
Author: Dylan Power
4th Year BB (Hons) in Recreation and Sport Management