Parenting Daily

Do you have an active teen? If so, you may be able to breathe a little bit easier about whether or not they’re using drugs or smoking.

I recently ran across this article about the effects of exercise on substance abuse addictions. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a study was done that shows promise regarding the effects of exercise on developing addictions to substances such as drugs and alcohol.

The chief at NIDA reports that a recent study found that teens that exercise regularly are 50% less likely to smoke cigarettes and 40% less likely to smoke marijuana.

As a result of this encouraging study’s findings, NIDA has made available $4 million in grants to devote to this area of research.

We already know that exercise helps teens (and everyone else!) to focus and concentrate, works as a natural antidepressant, helps regulate mood, and helps people to get a good night of restful sleep.

Of course, even if your teen exercises, there’s no guarantee they’ll never touch cigarettes or drugs. There’s just less of a chance.

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