Randomized Clinical Trial of Exercise for Nontreatment Seeking Adults With Alcohol Use Disorder

The vast majority of individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) do not seek professional help despite its significant consequences upon the individual and society. Current interventions for nontreatment seeking individuals with AUD (e.g., screening, brief intervention. and referral to treatment [SBIRT]) have limited efficacy and alternative nonstigmatizing approaches are needed. This randomized clinical trial examined the utility of exercise as an intervention for sedentary nontreatment seeking adults with AUD. Participants (N = 66) were randomized to receive (a) a 4-month YMCA gym membership only (MO) or (b) a 4-month YMCA gym membership plus a 16-week integrated motivational intervention for exercise consisting of motivational interviewing and contingency management (MI + CM). Participants in both study conditions significantly increased their exercise behavior compared to baseline, and the MI + CM participants exercised significantly more often and an overall larger volume of exercise than the MO participants (ds > 2.0). Significant reductions in drinking and alcohol-related consequences were noted over time but did not differ significantly by study condition and were not related to changes in exercise. Future interventions using exercise as an intervention for AUD may want to frame this type of intervention as "wellness." directly link the 2 behaviors, and compare this intervention to SBIRT.