Rob Archuleta – Addicts to Athletes – Meth Drug
Here’s a drug addiction success story in reverse. Instead of a top athlete falling into drug use and ruin, and then pulling himself up by the boot straps – this is the story of Rob Archuleta – for nine years addicted to meth, who became a top athlete – a runner.
Now four years into recovery from his meth addiction, Rob Archuleta is the founder of a self help sporting group that is called “Addicts to Athletes”.
The informal group meets on different fields once a week. There is half an hour of discussion, motivation, and companionship – then each person goes out to exercise as part of the group – walking or running – depending on their level of personal fitness.
Archuleta, who used to live for the next fix of meth drug, now lives for the “runner’s high” and has never before felt fitter, or better than he does today.
There are many text books and scholarly works that refer to the benefits of exercise for fitness, and tension relief.
Nothing is quite so persuasive or eloquent as the words of someone who is actually out there doing it, putting the “words” into practice – making exercise an important part of their life.
Says Archuleta – ” I just felt better about myself. I was not depressed and I was not having anxiety, and if I did feel stressed, I would just go out and run.”
When anxiety and tension, or painful depression is present in the mind, it has a very direct impact on the body. Anxiety fuels the “flight or fight” response - a rush of adrenalin, poised for movement and action.
Anxiety attacks often come on with no apparent cause, and there is no ready means to “discharge” all the potential energy that anxiety generates. It makes perfect sense – and is biologically sound to act out as nature originally intended we should do when feeling stressed and tense – get into some action and movement.
The benefits of an exercise program at any fitness level is that there is always a sense of achievement – of having done your personal best, plus there is the support, the synergy and energy of the “group” that helps with motivation.
For many addicts, and people in recovery from their addiction there is a history of having been or felt like a “failure”. Drug addiction is associated with feelings of low self esteem.
Running and exercise are not only productive of fitness, new optimism and energy – but people can actually achieve euphoric effects – called a runner’s high that can assist people to keep going with their fitness program – and keep off the drugs.
It is to be commended that Archuleta has not only thought in terms of his own recovery, but has reached out to others, and increased his social circle, bringing benefits to all.
Comprehensive alcohol and drug recovery programs include a moderate exercise regime in the context of complete addiction recovery. Exercise promotes a healthy appetite for good food, and promotes healthy sleep and relaxation. Exercise also helps the body to rid itself of drug metabolites and toxins remaining in the system that contribute to long term cravings, make people feel irritable – and more prone to drug use.
People into exercise groups as a means to drug recovery might like to consider taking their recovery one step further.
Two aspects of the comprehensive alcohol and drug recovery program can assist Addicts to Athletes, and others get more into their recovery.
Exercise also comes highly recommended to help recovery from addiction to cocaine, as well as meth drug.
Firstly the sauna detox helps and supports the exercise, helps to remove residual drugs and toxins from the body. Using sauna eliminates toxins, and reduces cravings.
Secondly, there is a set of life enhancement courses, that helps build self esteem, social confidence and allows people to work through painful issues from their past that can result in compulsive ways of behaving – and addictive drug use.
All forms of compulsive behavior are a response to internal stress – often caused by unresolved issues from our past – and a lack of life skills to deal with the problems of the moment.
Comprehensive life improvement courses complement any exercise program that enables you to “let off steam“, that relaxes and helps the body to recover from drug abuse.
The aim of comprehensive addiction recovery is to eliminate cravings and compulsive behavior. People that originally took exercise in a compulsive way will find that the more into true recovery they get, the less compulsive is their behavior. They begin to have more control.
Meth is a hard drug to give up, it is both physically and emotionally addictive. Comprehensive drug addiction programs are experienced with meth drug.
Using a regular exercise plan, and a comprehensive drug recovery program can get former addicts from being “in recovery” to being able to say “I’ve recovered completely from my addiction.”
