There has been an increased focus as of late on the importance of exercise for a healthy lifestyle, especially as first lady Michelle Obama has made obesity in children her mission. Doctors have known for years that a healthy level of activity in life is good for the brain, the heart and the body in general.

Now, new research has emerged suggesting that exercise can also prevent addiction to alcohol and drugs. This research focused on the changes that occur in the brain when a healthy level of physical activity is maintained on a regular basis.

The findings do not suggest that the average person should strive to achieve the “runner’s high” but instead can regularly elevate the heart rate so that the brain’s reward systems kick in and deliver the same benefits that are perceived in drug use.

The idea of exercise as a preventative measure first gained notice when the National Institute on Drug Abuse chief Dr. Nora Volkow learned of a study on tweens and teens and their likelihood to smoke or try marijuana. Study findings revealed that those teens or tweens who exercised daily were half as likely to smoke as their peers who were sedentary. The active youth were also 40 percent less likely to experiment with marijuana.

In her own research and personal activity, Volkow is well aware of the fact that the brain likes physical activity, even yearns for it. Regular activity appears to invigorate neurochemicals that have the ability to not only sense, but also reinforce pleasure. For children, this is second nature. As children get older, their likelihood to exercise or merely get active decreases and active time is replaced by screen time either in front of a television, computer or gaming device.

While additional research into the power of exercise is needed, value in activity is already understood. Many drug treatment programs include exercise as part of the daily regimen to act as a distraction from cravings, although a number of professionals report on additional benefits. One Brown University study captured powerful evidence.

In this study, regular smokers were taken to a gym three times a week as part of a cessation program. Results of this study found that adding exercise to the program doubled the participant’s chances in successfully eliminating their smoking habit. In addition, those individuals who exercised as part of their cessation gained only half the weight of those who quit without exercise.

A few other findings highlighted by the NIDA is the fact that rats with running wheels in their cages were less likely to ingest amphetamines; exercise in humans acts as a mild antidepressant and stress reliever, which can lead to alcoholism or drug abuse; and baby monkeys who do not get enough physical activity in childhood binge drink when they are offered alcohol.

The idea of consistent exercise acting as a preventative tool against drugs and alcohol is one that demands further research to determine just how to apply activity in everyday life. Until guidelines are clearly established, a regular exercise regimen will deliver only good things and should be actively pursued.