Nutrition, Exercise and Disordered Eating in Substance Use and Recovery: An Interdisciplinary Approach
Curriculum Infusion Package (CIP) for Undergraduate Course Work
The Nutrition, Exercise and Disordered Eating in Substance Use and Recovery: An Interdisciplinary Approach Curriculum Infusion Package (CIP) was developed by the Pacific Southwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (PS ROTA-R) in collaboration with the University of Nevada, Reno Extension. The CIP is designed to be added to existing courses and/or training and serve as a method of infusing new evidence-based practices (EBPs) and the latest information into curricula. The modules can be integrated into undergraduate academic course work for students pursuing studies in health sciences, psychology, social work, public health, or related disciplines, as well as for professionals currently working in fields connected to substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Curriculum infusion has been utilized as one solution for finding ‘curricular room’ (Gassman et al., 2001) for substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health (MH) information as well as a way of highlighting SUD/MH information within a context of a discipline (Redding & Selleck, 1999). Advocates of curriculum infusion promote the idea that science-based knowledge will be used more in professional practice if it is ‘functionally relevant’ (Taylor & Rafferty, 2003) meaning, taught within a specific discipline or profession.
This CIP features four modules with slide decks, recordings, and student exercises in a variety of SUD- and nutrition-related topics. In keeping with the curriculum infusion style, the slide decks and recordings are brief with the goal of teaching the material in short segments. The PowerPoint slides are available for download and include presenter notes, presenter recordings, and references. Additionally, a test question bank and a reference list for each module are available for download.
Grounded in current evidence and informed by interdisciplinary perspectives, the short course promotes a holistic understanding of the behavioral and physiological determinants that contribute to both the development of substance use disorders and the pursuit of long-term recovery. Structured around one introductory and three core modules, the short course critically examines how factors such as nutrition, physical activity and body image intersect with the etiology and treatment of substance use. These domains, supported by contemporary empirical research, equip learners with a comprehensive grasp of the biopsychosocial dynamics essential to effective, sustained recovery.
The Curriculum Infusion Package (CIP) was developed by the University of Nevada, Reno Extension in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Pacific Southwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (PS ROTA-R).
Developers
The developers of the Nutrition, Exercise and Disordered Eating in Substance Use and Recovery: An Interdisciplinary Approach CIP are:
- Project Lead and Facilitator: Anne R. Lindsay, PhD, FACSM, Professor, Extension Specialist, University of Nevada, Reno Extension
- Heather Norman-Burgdolf, PhD, Associate Extension Professor, Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky
- Nora L. Nock, PhD, PE, FSBM, Professor, Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, Case Western Reserve University
- Cortney S. Warren, PhD, ABPP
- Editing support provided by Trisha Dudkowski, BA, Cameran Rynearson, and Michele Solomon, MA, LADC
Funding
This product was funded under a cooperative agreement from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CASAT) (Grant # H79TI085586). The material, except those taken directly from copyrighted sources, is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted for training purposes without special permission. However, any content used should be attributed to the Pacific Southwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Regional Center (PS ROTA-R). The views expressed in these materials do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
References
Gassman, R. A., Demone Jr, H. W., & Albilal, R. (2001). Alcohol and other drug content in core courses: Encouraging substance abuse assessment. Journal of Social Work Education, 37(1), 137-145. https://doi.org/10.1080/10437797.2001.10779042
Redding, B. A., & Selleck, C. S. (1999). Perinatal substance abuse education: A review of existing curricula. Substance Abuse, 20(1), 17-31. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021344722132
Taylor, I., & Rafferty, J. (2003). Integrating research and teaching in social work: building a strong partnership1. Social Work Education, 22(6), 589-602. https://doi.org/10.1080/0261547032000142698
Introduction to CIP
Module 1 lays a foundation for understanding how biopsychosocial factors—ranging from motivations and stigma to basic models of nutrition, exercise, and eating—interact to shape substance use disorders and the recovery journey.
General Nutrition and Recovery
Module 2 examines how substance use disrupts nutrient absorption and leads to malnutrition, highlights the critical roles of macro- and micronutrients in physical and mental recovery, and offers practical dietary strategies to enhance rehabilitation outcomes.
Exercise and Movement
Module 3 examines evidence that exercise enhances abstinence and mental health in people with substance use disorders, explores underlying neurobiological and cardiorespiratory mechanisms, addresses the unique challenges of exercise testing in this population, and proposes future research and advocacy directions for movement-based interventions.
Body Image, Weight Concerns, & Dieting
Module 4 examines the bidirectional links between eating disorders and substance use—reviewing diagnoses, comorbidities, and the role of body image and weight concerns in driving harmful behaviors—while offering biopsychosocial, evidence-based strategies for integrated assessment and intervention.