This guest post was written by Patrick Bailey who writes various articles in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. Please check out his website at https://www.patrickbaileys.com/category/wellness/
Substance abuse in the United States has never been more prevalent than today. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are 14.4 million adult Americans currently suffering from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). The Mayo Clinic, one of the nation’s leading medical research institutions, says that AUD affects those suffering from it daily. People with AUD may ignore basic functions of living like taking showers, attending social gatherings, and going to work, all in the pursuit of consuming more alcohol.
That means someone with AUD may drink while driving, drink on the job, and even sell a majority of their possessions to purchase more alcohol. Put another way, AUD sufferers have no control over their consumption of alcohol, which leads to major troubles in life, such as food insecurity. If you or someone you know may be suffering from AUD, the next step may be to research alcohol rehab centers.
What is Food Insecurity?
One problem stemming from AUD is food insecurity, not just in the user, but also sometimes for children in the same household.
Food insecurity is determined by the availability of quality, healthful food in a given area. For instance, if you don’t have a vehicle and the only food available is from a gas station or convenience store near your house, you stand to suffer from food insecurity. However, if you have access to food so your daily nutritional needs are consistently met, you do not suffer from food insecurity. As of 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 11.1% of U.S. households are currently food insecure. That means just over 14 million American households do not have adequate access to nutritious food.
Food insecurity also has lasting impacts — on adults, yes, but especially children. In many cases, children who grow up in food-insecure households may develop health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, obesity, and other lasting health problems. In many cases, children may develop unhealthy habits towards sharing and have consistent fears and worries about their next meal. This also increases stress and anxiety among children as a chronic condition and may also impact their schooling, sociability, and more.
Linking Alcoholism to Food Insecurity
Research suggests a strong correlation between substance abuse and food insecurity. It’s widely believed that 70% of those with substance abuse problems are also food insecure. In many cases, those who abuse drugs or alcohol may forgo regular meals for days to afford their next fix. In many cases, abusers are most concerned and focused on securing money for drugs or alcohol. This also impacts families where the addict may not care about their children’s food security and are instead more focused on their next high. In interviews conducted with female heroin users, researchers found that users would typically skip meals for days, preferring to use money for drugs. In other cases, the presence of food in the body can also hinder or lessen the effects of certain drugs. It can reduce the perceived effects of cannabis. The same is also also true for more dangerous drugs. Therefore, many addicts may skip eating to get the “best” high.
In other studies, researchers have concluded that heroin users typically eat fast food more often than non-drug users. Opioid users have demonstrated vitamin deficiencies due to a lacking diet. It is also well established that alcoholics typically suffer from a deficiency in thiamine. This vitamin is responsible for the normal functions related to the heart, muscles, and brain. A lack of thiamine also may lead to complications such as difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, and leg swelling.
Another well-established cause of food insecurity among substance abusers is that many illicit drugs like cocaine, opioids, and alcohol suppress appetite. Heroin and similar opioids act to trigger a desire/craving for sugars and sweets, leading to higher BMI among users. Cannabis is an exception to drugs’ tendency to reduce hunger, since it is known to increase appetite.
Conclusion
Substance abuse relating to opioids, cocaine, and alcohol (among others) are known to cause food insecurity. This lack of nutritional value in consumed food leads to increased health risks and deficiencies in the user. Research also suggests that substance abuse impacts not only users but their families as well. Nearly 8% of food-insecure households have children who suffer from food insecurity due to parents and legal guardians who abuse substances.
Author Bio: Patrick Bailey is a professional writer mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the addiction and the mental health world and enjoy writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them.