How exercise could help fight drug addiction. The siren call of addictive drugs can be hard to resist, and returning to the environment where drugs were previously taken can make resistance that much harder. However, addicts who exercise appear to be less vulnerable to the impact of these environmental cues. Now, research with mice suggests that exercise might strengthen a drug user's resolve by altering the production of peptides in the brain. Source 7c.
Interesting article. I listened to an audio copy of “The Power of Habit” a few years ago that also suggested exercise for changing a habit. The approach was similar in that there is a cue or trigger for the action, followed by a reward. Exercise was suggested to replace the poor habit due to the endorphin rush acting as a replacement and comparable reward.
This really is a great thing to do with fighting addiction. Coming from a recovering addict, I exercise all the time now. It's something positive that helps keep your mind off using and just makes you feel better about yourself in general.