The total number of activities had dropped significantly compared with before the respondents started abusing substances, and the respondents desired an increase in activities in the future. A lower level of well-being as measured by the WHO-5 was predicted by a more pronounced drop in number of activities from past to recent and by more severe use of alcohol and other substances. Principal conclusion. Substance abuse is associated with a change in number of activities. Losing activities may contribute to a decrease in well-being. Helping substance abuse patients regain positive activities could improve well-being.

Introduction: Participation in social, cultural, and physical activities positively influences perceptions of health and quality of life. Few have studied how substance abuse influences patients´ participation in social, cultural and physical activities. Objectives/aims: We examined patterns of past, recent and future (desired) activities of patients being admitted to substance abuse treatment at a Norwegian university hospital. Methods: A questionnaire was developed specifically for the self-reporting of social, cultural, and physical activities. Psychiatric diagnoses including substance use diagnoses and other clinical and demographic data were also obtained. Data were analysed with descriptive and comparative analyses, including ANOVA. Results: 78 patients responded (71%), 23 women, 55 men. Mean age was 38. 71% had a diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use, while some had personality disorders (8.9%) or schizophrenia (3.6%). The total amount of activities had dropped significantly compared to before the respondents started abusing substances, and the drop was particularly pronounced for physical activities (Figure).