“It's like a counselling session … but you don't need to say anything:” Exercise program outcomes for youth within a drug and alcohol treatment service

Based on the 'lived experiences' of youth and staff, the results of this study indicated that participation in regular, structured, and personalized exercise may be an important part of successful SUD treatment. The benefits of exercise align with a range of important outcomes including exercise perceptions (i.e., barriers to exercise participation, exercise motivation), recovery factors (e.g., cravings and withdrawals, routine), and health outcomes (e.g., self-esteem and mental health, physical health) among youth undergoing SUD treatment.