Nutrition for Opioid Overdose

by | Oct 31, 2017 | Eating Disorders, Food Addiction, Nutrition News, Recovery, Research, Substance Abuse

Nutrition for Opioid Overdose

On September 15, 2017 The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics issued a statement to the CDC regarding Nutrition Interventions and Drug Overdose Response Investigation (DORI) Data Collections. The statement was written by Registered Dietitian Nutritionist David Wiss and essentially advocates the role of nutrition for opioid overdose.
The official statement which is reproduced below can be viewed HERE
Re: Drug Overdose Response Investigation (DORI) Data Collections (Docket No. CDC-2017-0055)
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the “Academy”) appreciates the opportunity to submit comments to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in response to the data collection published in the July 17, 2017 Federal Register regarding the Drug Overdose Response Investigation (DORI) Data Collections (Docket No. CDC-2017-0055). The Academy is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, with more than 100,000 members comprised of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs), nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered (NDTRs), and advanced-degree nutritionists. We are committed to improving the nation’s health through food and nutrition and providing medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and other nutrition counseling services to meet the health needs of all citizens, including those with eating disorders (EDs) or substance use disorders (SUD).
The Academy supports the proposed data collection as necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, particularly given the practical utility resulting from the collections. We respectfully offer recommendations below from Academy member David A. Wiss, MS, RDN, on behalf of our Behavioral Health Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group for potential improvements to the data collections and as support for the claim that nutrition can play a very important role in promoting wellness during the recovery process, thereby helping to reduce relapse and accidental overdose or death.

Eating Patterns and Substance Use Disorders

There are several studies that document substandard eating patterns during drug use, including inadequate intake leading to micronutrient deficiencies [1-6] and malnutrition [7-11]. Abnormal preference for sweetened foods and beverages have been documented in alcoholics [12-14] and other SUDs [15, 16] particularly opioids [17-25]. While micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition are often corrected by abstinence and recovery, dysfunctional eating patterns such as bingeing and night-eating are often exacerbated during sobriety. Early recovery should be considered a critical time to get nutritional support (e.g. dietary counseling) by a qualified professional such as an RDN.
The overlap between SUDs and EDs has received significant attention in the scientific literature [26-41]. Authors have recently begun to suggest that these disorders be treated concurrently rather than separately. In members’ personal experience working in both fields, patients will oscillate between treatments and are seldom treated concurrently. While it is true that RDNs are a requirement for ED treatment, there is no present requirement for RDNs in SUD treatment settings. Based on members’ experience working with SUD treatment centers, the use of RDNs is rare most likely because nutrition services are not covered by insurance for SUD. We note that the failure to address food and body image issues in SUD treatment is likely contributing to poor outcomes.
It is predictable that individuals entering treatment for SUD will find other substances to abuse, including food [42-45], caffeine [46, 47], and nicotine [46, 47]. While some would argue that it makes sense to allow unlimited access to such substances during early recovery, others believe that the lack of nutrition and health standards are contributing to poor treatment outcomes. Evidence suggests that gastrointestinal health is linked to mental health [48-51] with strong implications for anxiety and depression. Given what is known about the importance of gut health, it seems that improved health and nutrition should be considered a prime intervention for SUD recovery. RDNs in treatment settings are highly qualified to discuss health habits including caffeine and nicotine in the context of nutrition and gastrointestinal health.

Nutrition Education and Interventions During Treatment

Several studies have demonstrated links between nutrition education and positive outcomes in SUD treatment settings [52-57]. Some of the studies have suggested that nutrition education has led to reduced rates of relapse, but higher quality research with greater sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings. Given the opioid epidemic and alarming number of overdose and deaths, however, it seems unwise to wait for more data before using nutrition as an intervention strategy.
Nutrition interventions during recovery may promote abstinence and prevent or minimize the onset of chronic illness, improving resource allocation. A review article from the United Kingdom on the role of healthy eating advice as part of drug treatment in prisons concluded that “substance-misuse is a major factor in recidivism and if this could be reduced through improvement of nutritional status, it could be a cost effective means of helping to tackle this problem” [58]. Given the opioid epidemic, public health measures necessitating nutrition standards in treatment settings should be considered critical. There is a timely need for specialized nutrition expertise in SUD treatment centers, and RDNs are highly qualified for the job.

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David became a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) in 2013 and founded Nutrition in Recovery, a group practice of RDNs specializing in the treatment of eating and substance use disorders. In 2017, David received the “Excellence in Practice” award at the national Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo. The California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics awarded him the “Emerging Dietetic Leader Award” in 2020. He earned his PhD from UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health in the Community Health Sciences department (with a minor in Health Psychology) by investigating the links between adverse childhood experiences and various mental health outcomes among socially disadvantaged men. His treatment philosophy is based on a biopsychosocial model which incorporates an understanding of biological mechanisms, psychological underpinnings, and contextual factors that integrate the social determinants of health. His website Wise Mind Nutrition offers a fully online interactive treatment program that will be available in the Summer of 2022.

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