During Drug Treatment
For someone going into a drug treatment program for addiction to opiates, meth, prescription drug abuse, or even alcohol abuse it is important that
they understand the type of nutritional regimen that the drug treatment program provides-especially in the early stages of drug treatment during detox. The standard medical establishment has very little knowledge about withdrawals from drugs or alcohol and in fact many practitioners in the medical field believe that drug treatment consists of transitioning drug addicts or alcoholics from their usual drug of choice to some other narcotic like methadone or suboxone. So instead of applying a comprehensive approach to getting people on the road to recovery, many medical practitioners fall back on the easy approach and just throw more drugs at the problem. Proper drug treatment programs, on the other hand, will focus on a comprehensive approach to getting the addict or alcoholic off of substances and on the road to recovery.
It is important when you are researching drug treatment programs for you or a loved one that you find one that will provide a comprehensive program of drug treatment that includes detox, counseling, group therapy, and a solid emphasis on nutrition during the entire drug treatment program. The most important issue in drug treatment is treating the individual rather than just the disease state. Everyone is different so we all respond to drug treatment in different ways. That is why a drug treatment program that is comprehensive in its approach to treating the mind, body, and spirit will have more success in the long run because different aspects of the drug treatment program can be varied to suit each individual’s needs.
Long term substance abuse will have resulted in changes to the addict or alcoholic’s body chemistry and more than likely caused a loss of muscle mass. Nutrition is a way to have a positive impact on these changes and is certainly something that will need to be addressed on an individual basis in a good drug treatment program. Each person’s tastes vary. So trying to meet the nutritional needs of everyone with limited choices will be a recipe for failure.
One issue that should be addressed during the detox phase of drug treatment is restoring the body’s electrolytes to a more normal range. This can readily be done with the use of powdered electrolyte drinks like Pedialyte, Emergen-C, and even Gatorade. There is a wide selection available. So it will be easy to meet each person’s taste going through drug treatment.
Another important factor to consider during drug treatment is restoration of vital nutrients. Poor diet is commonplace for an addict or alcoholic deep into their disease. So supplying them with important vitamins and minerals during the early phases of drug treatment is critical. While providing protein, carbohydrates, and fats that the body needs with regular meals is important, it is also critical to restore the proper amount of vitamins and minerals within a person’s body during drug treatment. Without these, the results will be less than optimal. It would be similar to building a house with lumber, drywall, and shingles without having the nails, nuts, and bolts to hold it all together.
Furthermore, oral nutrition is often very difficult for most people in their first week of drug treatment because the effects of withdrawals usually lead to an upset stomach or intestinal problems or both. So vitamin and mineral supplements provided with proper fluids during the early stages of drug treatment are a good alternative. Protein powders provided through smoothies or shakes during the early phases of drug treatment are also a good solution to help the addict’s body regain strength and muscle mass without the need for solid foods.
Other important foods to take in during drug treatment include raw fruits and vegetables. These will help remove toxins from the body and normalize the intestinal function. Lots of fresh water and even green tea are also good to ingest during drug treatment as these contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. And finally, there are also specific minerals which restore healthy liver function which can be very important during drug treatment as the addict’s liver may have been damaged due to years of substance abuse.
Going into a drug treatment program is a big step in an addict’s road to recovery. So it is important that you make an educated choice when choosing a drug treatment program for you or a loved one. Do your homework to ensure that the drug treatment program you choose takes a comprehensive approach and provides treatment for the mind, body, and spirit.