Development and preliminary pilot evaluation of a brief tablet computer intervention to motivate tobacco quitline use among smokers in substance use treatment.

Background And Objectives: The majority of individuals in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment also smoke cigarettes; yet, the availability of smoking cessation services in SUD treatment remains limited. In this study, we developed and piloted a brief intervention for smokers in SUD treatment intended to motivate engagement in tobacco quitline treatment (TIME-TQ).

Methods: First, we interviewed 19 smokers in SUD treatment to inform the development of TIME-TQ (Phase 1).

A preliminary, randomized trial of aerobic exercise for alcohol dependence.

Interventions targeting physical activity may be valuable as an adjunct to alcohol treatment, but have been relatively untested. In the current study, alcohol dependent, physically sedentary patients were randomized to: a 12-week moderate-intensity, group aerobic exercise intervention (AE; n=25) or a brief advice to exercise intervention (BA-E; n=23). Results showed that individuals in AE reported significantly fewer drinking and heavy drinking days, relative to BA-E during treatment.

Spirituality and treatment of addictive disorders.

Spirituality is generally protective against the initiation of alcohol and drug use and progression to disordered use. In addition, mutual-help organizations, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, were founded on spiritual principles, and reliance on a "higher power" is a central component of the 12 steps. Despite this, spirituality is not commonly addressed in formal treatment of addictions.

EXERCISE PREFERENCES OF PATIENTS IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT.

While emerging studies have demonstrated the benefit of exercise in early recovery from substance use disorders, recruitment and adherence to exercise interventions have been challenging. Tailoring interventions based on patient exercise preferences may address these concerns. Ninety-seven (N=97; age=41.

A Pilot Study of Aerobic Exercise as an Adjunctive Treatment for Drug Dependence.

Intervention to increase exercise in drug dependent patients represents a potentially useful yet unexplored strategy for preventing relapse. However, there are currently no established exercise interventions for use with this population. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the feasibility of aerobic exercise as an adjunct to substance abuse treatment among drug dependent patients.

Aerobic exercise for alcohol recovery: rationale, program description, and preliminary findings.

Alcohol use disorders are a major public health concern. Despite the demonstrated efficacy of a number of different treatments for alcohol dependence, relapse remains a major problem. Healthy lifestyle changes may contribute to long-term maintenance of recovery, and interventions targeting physical activity, in particular, may be especially valuable as an adjunct to alcohol treatment.