Does addiction last a lifetime?

POSTED OCTOBER 08, 2018, 10:30 AM , UPDATED OCTOBER 09, 2018, 9:43 AM

Peter Grinspoon, MD
Contributing Editor

I am now 11 years into recovery from my battle with opiate addiction, and I have always been fascinated with two related questions: is there truly such a thing as an “addictive personality,” and do people substitute addictions?

The myth of the addictive personality

The recently deceased writer and television personality Anthony Bourdain was criticized by some for recreationally using alcohol and cannabis, in what was seemingly a very controlled and responsible manner, decades after he quit heroin and cocaine. Was this a valid criticism? Can a person who was addicted to drugs or alcohol in their teens safely have a glass of wine with dinner in their middle age?

read more here>>>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/does-addiction-last-a-lifetime-2018100814962

Nutrition for Addiction Recovery

1. How Substance Abuse Affects Appetite
2. How Nutrition Helps With Recovery
3. Diet and Nutritional Guidelines for Addiction Recovery
4. Nutrition in Addiction Treatment Programs
5. Find a Diet Therapy Recovery Center

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Drug and alcohol abuse can cause nutritional deficiencies and issues with digestion. Users often have depleted levels of vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids and fats, which can lead to a number of mental and physical problems.

Read more>>>https://www.recovery.org/treatment-therapy/nutrition/

The Benefits of Nutrition During Recovery from Addiction

Author: Chris Elkins, MA 

Most people don’t think about diet when they enter treatment for addiction. They think of withdrawal. They think of counseling sessions or group therapy. People in recovery talk about following the 12 Steps, finding purpose in life or developing a relationship with a higher power.

Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet is rarely mentioned.

Read more>>>https://www.drugrehab.com/guides/nutrition/

Can exercise help conquer addiction?

POSTED DECEMBER 26, 2018, 10:30 AM

Claire Twark, MD
Contributor

As an athlete, I think regularly about the potential health benefits of exercise for my patients. Every week, I treat patients hospitalized at Brigham and Women’s Hospital with significant medical problems that are a direct result of severe addiction, ranging from seizures and strokes to heart valve and joint infections. I also care for outpatients at the Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital Addiction Recovery Program. In both settings, I provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) such as buprenorphine-naloxone for opioid use disorder, and extended-release naltrexone for both alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder. I work closely with therapists and social workers who offer our patients counseling and referrals to additional programs. I frequently discuss mutual-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and SMART Recovery with patients. I use motivational interviewing techniques to help enhance motivation and guide patients towards their recovery goals.

Read more>>>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-exercise-help-conquer-addiction-2018122615641

Chronic Health Problems Common After Addiction Recovery

More than a third of individuals who consider themselves in recovery from an alcohol or other substance use disorder continue to suffer from chronic physical disease, according to a study which highlights the need for a proactive approach to healthcare for those recovering.

Alcohol and other substance-use problems take enormous psychological and societal tolls on millions of Americans. Now a study from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Recovery Research Institute shows that more than a third of individuals who consider themselves in recovery from an alcohol or other substance use disorder continue to suffer from chronic physical disease.

More >> https://www.technologynetworks.com/diagnostics/news/chronic-health-problems-common-after-addiction-recovery-317192