Nutrition and Recovery

Substance abuse depletes the body of the nutrients required to produce energy, protect the immune system, support healthy brain and nerve function, and heal from the effects of environmental damage.⁷ As a result, people who abuse alcohol or drugs may be at risk of developing chronic illness, skin problems, foggy thinking, and unwanted weight loss.⁷ A study of 67 heavy alcohol and/or drug users reported the following results:⁸

• 88% had poor appetites and needed nutritional support and guidance.
• 50% were deficient in iron and/or vitamins and minerals.
• 24% of participants were malnourished.
• 21% percent were low in vitamin A.
• 18% were low in iron.
• 12% were low in potassium.
• 8% were low in vitamin C.

Many heavy drinkers are low in B vitamins — especially B6, B12, thiamine and folate—which support metabolism, energy production, and brain and nerve function.⁷ A shortage of these vitamins can cause depression, anxiety, restlessness, and confusion.

For heavy drug and alcohol users, food is often treated as an inconvenience rather than a vital source of life and health. The substance abuser often has inadequate dietary intake leading to malnutrition.⁷

Sweets, junk foods, and fast foods—and a low intake of fruits and vegetables—are often the easiest and cheapest options, and these items tend to be appealing.^7,9 In fact, the heaviest drug users are often the most malnourished.⁷

One study of drug-addicted individuals found that 61% of the study participants displayed a strong preference for sugary foods, and that approximately 30% of their caloric intake came from added sugar.⁸

Sugar may even simulate some of the sensations produced by drugs or alcohol. Consuming sugar results in increased levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter commonly associated with feelings of reward and plays a role in the development of addiction.¹⁰ Eating large quantities of sugar can produce responses in the brain that are similar to opioid addiction.¹⁰

A high-sugar diet can also contribute to the depletion of vitamins, elevated blood sugar levels, high cholesterol, and an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.¹¹

How Alcohol and Certain Drugs Affect Nutritional Status

The specific effects on an individual’s nutritional status may depend on the drug or drugs that they have been using. Each category of substances affects the body in different ways:

Alcohol

In general, individuals dependent on alcohol eat poorly and do not consume a balanced diet. Alcoholics often eat less than the amounts of food necessary to provide sufficient carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins A and C, the B vitamins, and minerals such as calcium and iron.¹² Excessive alcohol consumption may also interfere with a person’s ability to absorb and use the nutrients that they do consume.¹³

Alcohol depletes vitamins B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine) as well as folic acid and the deficiency correlates with the amount of alcohol consumed and with the corresponding decrease in vitamin intake.¹² Brain damage can result from a lack of thiamine, which may lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome.^1,12

Patients with alcohol-related liver disease (i.e., cirrhosis) are also frequently deficient in vitamin A.¹² Vitamin A deficiency can result in eye disorders and impairs the ability of the eye to adjust to dark conditions. It may also promote fibrosis (i.e., formation of scar tissue in the liver).¹²

Alcohol’s interference with the metabolism of fatty acids can also cause “alcoholic fatty liver,” where dietary fat is deposited in the liver.^12,13 Decreasing the amount of fat in the diet can reduce the severity of the condition.⁷

Alcohol also inhibits the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, which can lead to hypoglycemia caused by impaired insulin secretion.^1,12

Stimulants

Central nervous system stimulants, such as cocaine, crack, meth, and amphetamines, as well as hallucinogenic drugs like ecstasy, accelerate the activities of the brain and nerves and increase the body’s metabolic rate, which generally leads to decreased appetite and weight loss.¹⁴ When stopping use of stimulants, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances may occur.¹⁴ Calcium and vitamin D may not be fully absorbed. Laboratory tests for proteins, vitamins, iron and other electrolytes are recommended to determine the extent of liver function as well as guide nutritional supplementation.¹⁴ Methamphetamine users typically have high rates of dental disease, including decayed, missing and filled teeth which further complicates nutritional intake.^14,15

Opioid Drugs and Medications

Opioids include all drugs — synthetic or naturally derived — that are chemically based on opium. This broad category encompasses heroin, a powerfully addictive illicit drug, as well as common prescription pain relievers like oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), morphine, codeine, and methadone.¹⁶

Opioids are central nervous system depressants, which slow down the activities of all the body’s systems, including digestion. The effects of opioids on the gastrointestinal tract can cause chronic constipation, delayed digestion, and malabsorption of nutrients.¹⁷

In detox, individuals withdrawing from opiates may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and anorexia, or a lack of desire to eat. Diarrhea and vomiting can lead to potentially dangerous fluid and electrolyte imbalances, namely a deficiency of potassium.¹⁴

Marijuana

Marijuana, or cannabis, has become the most commonly used drug in the U.S., after alcohol.¹⁸ Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the active chemical compounds in marijuana, can act as an appetite stimulant.¹⁴ This increase in appetite can cause unhealthy weight gain in long-term users, who might need a restricted diet and an exercise program to help them achieve a healthy weight.¹⁴

Goals for Nutrition in Recovery