Traditional clinical interventions for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) are foundational to recovery, but true sustained healing often requires replacing the profound void left by addiction with purpose, community, and physiological wellness. This NOCE Listening Session explores the validated efficacy of physical fitness, outdoor recreation, and targeted nutrition as powerful adjunct modalities in OUD treatment.
Panelists will discuss the neurological and psychological benefits of movement, the importance of rebuilding community through shared physical challenges, and how replacing destructive behaviors with the positive attributes of athletics can transform the trajectory of recovery. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how to integrate holistic, active modalities into traditional behavioral health frameworks to support long-term, sustainable sobriety.
Learning Objectives:
- Analyze and identify the specific physiological and psychological mechanisms by which structured physical fitness, outdoor recreation, and nutritional support mitigate withdrawal symptoms, reduce distress intolerance, and support long-term OUD recovery.
- Develop actionable strategies for behavioral health professionals and social service providers to incorporate holistic wellness interventions, including adaptive sports, team-based fitness, and nutrition into traditional clinical treatment plans for patients with OUD.
Moderator:
Bianca D. McCall, LMFT is a retired professional women’s basketball player. She is an international TED Speaker, and renowned mental health researcher and expert. Bianca is a licensed clinical therapist, with 25 years in Behavioral Health, and 12 years as a Healthcare CEO. In recent years, she has grown significantly in the digital health space, and created a first-of-its-kind social-emotional platform, designed to improve human health span.
For more than a decade, her work and research has been dedicated to psychological (mental) injury prevention and the discovery of innovations addressing existential isolation. Bianca is passionate about leading projects which promote ongoing research in mental injury prevention, integration of technologies, data analytics, and the discovery of culturally and linguistically responsive crisis interventions. Bianca represents Nevada, on national committees and namely the Suicide Prevention Resource Center; designated by SAMHSA, and Steering Committee for the U.S. Department of Public Health and is a contributor to the National Strategies for Suicide Prevention in areas of Clinical Education, Provider Standards, and Technology. Bianca is a subject matter expert, a curriculum developer, and instructor in higher education with the Centers for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT), Region 9, housed at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Panelists:
- Blu Robinson, SUDC, CMHC, Founder & Headcoach of Addict II Athlete
Blu Robinson is a well-known Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) and a Substance Use Disorder Counselor (SUDC) and the founder of Addict to Athlete. Blu grew up in a dysfunctional home and struggled with substance abuse and other issues due to the trauma, abuse and neglect he suffered as a child. From a mom getting married at 14 years old to moving about 25 times by the age of 18. He has now been free from mind altering substances since 1996. Blu has turned his mess into a message and now helps others do the same.Blu specializes in addiction treatment and is passionate about helping others. He has worked in the field of counseling and recovery since 2001, working with youth, adults, and families. Blu is widely known in the recovery community as a pioneer in the addiction recovery field, an inspirational speaker, and an innovator. Blu possesses the ability to motivate people to reach great heights of performance and success in life and recovery. With passion, purpose, a listening ear, and meaning he teaches others to erase negative behaviors and replace that void left behind with the talents of an inspirational athlete. He has raced multiple marathons, ultra-cycling events, triathlons, and ultra-marathons. Throughout each of these experiences, he has learned, that the human spirit is much stronger than we think.
Blu’s role in team Addict II Athlete is the head coach. As a licensed clinician he is able to assist athletes on a larger scale from individual to group support with a clinical component. He is a mentor, teacher, counselor, and instructor to the athletes and their families, assisting them in moving to recovery and a healthy lifestyle by providing an action-oriented recovery-based program. - Carlos Sanchez, M.S., CADC-I, Fitness Coordinator Vegas Stronger
At the intersection of mental health and physical wellness, I serve a dual role supporting individuals on their journey to recovery and personal transformation. As a Drug and Alcohol Counselor, I provide trauma-informed therapy, lead group and individual sessions, and develop personalized treatment plans for clients battling addiction and co-occurring disorders. In my role as a Fitness Coordinator, I integrate strength-based training and holistic wellness practices to empower clients physically and mentally. My approach is rooted in the belief that healing is multidimensional—combining movement, mindset, and purpose. I’m passionate about building resilience, restoring hope, and walking alongside people as they reclaim their lives. - Sophie Moeller, Development Director| Achieve Tahoe
Sophie Moeller is the Development Director for Achieve Tahoe, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building health, confidence, and independence in people with disabilities through outdoor recreation. Her professional background includes nonprofit leadership, nutrition education, and recovery support services, with more than a decade spent working in the health and human services sector. Prior to joining Achieve Tahoe, Sophie served as Executive Director of Reps 4 Recovery, a Reno nonprofit that supports individuals in recovery through fitness, community, and service. She also taught Nutrition at STEP2 for eight years, helping women in recovery develop practical skills to support their quality of life. Sophie holds a Level 1 Precision Nutrition Certification and is passionate about helping people build sustainable and realistic healthy lifestyles. In addition to her professional experience, Sophie brings a personal perspective to the conversation. She has been sober for more than a decade and credits recovery with changing the trajectory of her life. Today, she and her husband both embrace a life grounded in recovery and well-being. Sophie was recently honored as Truckee Meadows Community College’s Alumna of the Year, an achievement she attributes in large part to the opportunities that sobriety and healthy living have made possible. Sophie leans into the belief that movement is medicine. Whether through fitness, recreation, or simply staying active in daily life, she has seen firsthand how movement can improve physical health and support mental well-being for long-term recovery.
Continuing Education Units: 2 CEUs
This training is approved for continuing education by the boards listed here. This training is also approved by the Nevada Certification board for the following certifications
- Certified Community Health Workers (CHW)
- Peer Recovery and Support Specialist Certification and PRSS Supervisors (PRSS(-S)
- Birth Doula
Funding for this activity was made possible in whole or in part by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Director’s Office through the Fund for a Resilient Nevada, established in Nevada Revised Statutes 433.712 through 433.744. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in our courses are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Nevada Opioid Center of Excellence or its funders.