Last updated on June 15th, 2023
So far, in 2022, the National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 20.4 million people in the U.S. have a substance use disorder (SUD) diagnosis. Out of this population, only 10.3% sought and received treatment for their addiction. Unfortunately, these numbers are expected to keep growing as things like the opioid crisis and other street drugs continue to be rampant in urban and rural areas.
Regardless of what substance a person is abusing, successful treatment must be holistic – encompassing both mental and physical health. Nutrition plays a prominent role in recovery, as many drugs can cause significant problems to a person’s body and brain. The food consumed during recovery can help repair the damage from the abuse, so it’s essential to consume a healthy diet regularly.
October, which is Substance Abuse Awareness Month, is the perfect time to acknowledge nutrition’s impact on addiction. Although eating nutritiously seems like a no-brainer to improving overall wellness during recovery, it’s often a missing piece in many treatment programs. But why? What makes getting healthy food so hard for recovery centers?
Nutrition Gap in Recovery Centers Cause Barriers to Accessing Quality Food
Communities hit the hardest by addiction rates may also be food deserts, areas where residents have limited or no access to healthy, affordable foods. When high-quality food isn’t available or within reach, recovery centers in these communities struggle to provide patients with the food they need to aid their recovery. This nutrition gap is one of the most considerable barriers for recovery centers trying to access quality food.
Residential treatment staff are a major driving force behind combatting the nutrition gap, as they are the people who work directly with patients and implement programs. However, as much as the environment can impact a facility’s ability to access healthy food, staff can also make a positive or negative difference. A 2020 study identified several staff-perceived barriers to incorporating more nutrition-based interventions into treatment programs: facility-wide collaboration, menu changes, and client satisfaction.
Additional barriers can include:
- Negative Stigma. Many negative stigmas are placed against people suffering from SUD or addiction. Because of this, they are often blamed for their disease – a statement that contradicts medical evidence that addiction is a diagnosable, neurologic disease. These stigmas have led to some believing that people with SUD don’t “deserve” quality recovery treatment.
- Insufficient Budget. Limited funding makes it challenging for residential treatment facilities to implement necessary programs, much less provide care that might be deemed “unnecessary.” Even though getting proper nutrition is extremely vital to the health of patients with SUD, many treatment centers simply do not have the funds to provide fresh, healthy foods.
- Other Treatment Goals Take Precedent. Naturally, the main goals of substance abuse treatment are sobriety, stability, and eliminating any threat of harm to the self or others. However, while these goals are important for patients’ safety and overall well-being, that doesn’t mean other factors contributing to recovery – like nutrition – should fall by the wayside.
- A Lack of Education About Nutrition. In a recent study of mental health professionals (MHPs), only 0.8% of 52 clinicians reported that they had sufficient nutrition education. Other clinicians and staff have similar levels of nutrition knowledge, making it hard to implement quality programs without extensive training or outside help.
However, the nutrition gap doesn’t just include the food patients eat. It also includes nutrition education and classes. Currently, less than 7% of recovery treatment centers offer nutrition counseling in their services.
Benefits of Healthy Eating After Addiction
During recovery, people must receive holistic treatment to prevent relapse as much as possible, which is a reality for many who have abused drugs. In fact, the American Addiction Centers report that up to 85% of people return to their addiction shortly after completing treatment. Good nutrition is a major prevention factor for relapse, especially since poor eating habits or malnutrition can increase drug-seeking tendencies. A balanced diet can help increase neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine – all chemicals that aid in rewiring the brain during addiction treatment.
Other benefits that nutrition can have during recovery are:
- Boosting the body’s source of vitamins B and D, along with iron and amino acids – all nutrients that people with SUD are often deficient in
- Helping the body restore metabolization function
- Improve mental health symptoms and moods like depression and agitation
- Enhance both short-term and long-term memory
How to Improve Nutrition in Recovery Centers
Partnering with a food service provider like Culinary Services Group is one good way to start creating a more efficient and well-rounded treatment SUD recovery program. Incorporating a liberalized diet into the menu of recovery centers is perhaps the most crucial step in improving nutrition for SUD patients, especially in treatment centers located in food deserts. Registered dietitians also serve a unique role in educating staff and patients on ways to eat healthier, the impact of non-nutritious foods, and meal planning and preparation.
We do this by providing healthy meals, nutrition education, and counseling from registered dietitians to inpatient recovery programs throughout the US. Our services help facilities incorporate more nutritious options into the meal plans of patients, giving them a chance at a more holistic recovery. Contact us today to learn more about how your organization can take advantage of our services.
