Can Exercise Help Kick The Habit of Drug
                      
 
 
Can Exercise Help Kick The Habit of Drug? 
 
Most long-time drug users find it hard to quit because they are no longer able 
to experience the "rush" associated with drug use. Even after undergoing a 
tedious rehab and detoxification at drug addiction centre in Agra, they 
experience frequent cravings that often end in a relapse. A long-term abuse of 
drugs leads to significant changes in the chemistry of the brain, driving the 
compulsive drug use. 
Through detoxification, it is possible to remove the toxins and pump in 
essential nutrients back into the system, but psychological cravings cannot be 
uprooted this way. While a substantial amount of willpower is needed for 
beating the odds, there are many who have successfully curbed their addiction 
problem by bringing about positive changes in their lifestyle. Studies have 
shown that staying clean can be easier if one indulges in some sort of physical 
activity, such as cycling, running, sprinting, etc. Apparently, any form of 
physical activity that is of a competitive nature releases endorphins, the 
body's natural opiates. 
 
Physical exercise helped personalities tackle their addiction 
I would like to share story of an eminent personality, who took to sports after 
his stay at a rehab, people can tread the path of sobriety by making exercise 
a priority in their life. At one point of time, He had been addicted to painkillers 
as he has himself admitted taking 60 pills a day.  
In fact, his addiction was so severe that in 2005 he was admitted to a hospital, 
where doctors informed that he had little chances of recovery as all his vital 
organs were shutting down. 
Post rehab, he found it hard to sleep and constantly required food to soothe 
the stomach pains, which invariably led to an increased weight. It was then 
that he took to running. Exercise provided him the much-needed endorphin 
rush. "Exercise gave me a natural endorphin high, but it also helped me sleep, 
so it was perfect. It's easy to understand how people replace addiction with 
exercise," he said in an interview. 
Exercise: A natural stress buster and endorphin releaser 
In order to understand how exercise could trigger the same pathways that are 
responsible for drug addiction and for the cravings thereafter, it is necessary 
to understand how the brain reacts to standard drugs. An old study by 
researchers from Johns Hopkins University explained how brain's pathways 
are affected by drugs. The researchers found that the brain's neurons had some 
very specific receptor sites for drugs such as opium, heroin, codeine or 
morphine. On further analysis, it was found that the active ingredient in 
morphine, resembled the chemical constituent of endorphin, the feel-good 
hormone released by the brain, in certain ways. 
Once ingested, drug molecules attach themselves to the endorphin-receptor 
sites present on the nerve endings in the brain and trigger chemical responses 
that could be more potent than the response generated by endorphins. 
Subsequently, the individual feels a sense of elevation or euphoria. 
When a person exercises in the gym or outdoors, he or she feels a similar 
"endorphin rush." Depression and anxiety are common responses post a rehab. 
However, when a person engages in strenuous physical activities, such as 
cycling or running, the body experiences a natural rush of feel-good hormones, 
which prevents his or her cravings for drugs. 
Leading a drug-free life is possible 
Different drugs cause particular types of reactions in the brain. When it comes 
to misuse of drugs like cocaine or heroin, even a meager proportion can be 
dangerous to one's health.