More Than a Meal: How Nutritional Therapy Rebuilds the Body & Brain in Recovery

Nutrition is often the first thing that suffers when someone start abusing drugs or alcohol. According to research, more than 60% of people with drug dependence suffer from nutritional deficiencies. That’s mostly because drug abuse can lead to malnutrition and disturbances in nutrient absorption, as well as increased or decreased appetite. As such, treatment centers integrate nutritional therapy to help reverse the negative effects, and restore balance.

What Is Nutrition Counseling in Addiction Treatment?

Nutritional counseling in drug rehab is a structured, evidence-based approach to restoring health. It is part of a broader addiction treatment plan, often combined with therapy, medication, and support groups.

During this process, a registered dietitian evaluates your diet, medical history, and lab results. The goal is to repair the body, rebalance the brain, and support long-term physical health.

Medical nutritional therapy focuses on identifying deficiencies, rebuilding energy stores, and correcting damage caused by poor eating habits and substance abuse. It also helps manage health challenges that arise when the body is deprived of key nutrients.

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The process is deeply individualized, as no two people have the exact same nutritional needs. For example, someone recovering from alcoholism may need high doses of B vitamins, while someone recovering from stimulant use may need amino acids to restore neurotransmitter balance.

Common Nutritional Deficiencies in Addiction

Substance use affects how the body absorbs, stores, and uses nutrients. Over time, this leads to serious health issues from nutritional deficiencies.

Common deficiencies include:

Vitamins and minerals: Chronic alcohol and drug use depletes B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc. These nutrients support the nervous system and energy metabolism.
Amino acids: These are the building blocks of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine. Low levels can cause depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
Healthy fats: Essential fatty acids are vital for brain repair and hormone balance. Without them, the brain struggles to function properly.
Complex carbohydrates: These stabilize blood sugar and sustain energy. Skipping them often leads to fatigue and irritability.

The Effects of Specific Drugs on Nutrition

Alcohol and drug use interfere with how the body absorbs and uses nutrients. As a result, one might end up experiencing weight loss, irritability, confusion, and frequent illness. Low nutrients also make withdrawal symptoms worse. That's where nutritional therapy can be a game-changer in early recovery from addiction.

Alcohol

Alcohol affects nearly every organ system. It irritates the digestive tract and reduces the body’s ability to absorb nutrients like thiamine (vitamin B1), folate, and vitamin B12. Deficiency in these nutrients can cause fatigue, nerve damage, and cognitive decline. Chronic alcohol use can also damage the liver, leading to impaired fat metabolism, low levels of amino acids, and reduced energy production.

Opioids (Heroin, Prescription Painkillers)

Opioid use often slows digestion, causing constipation and poor appetite. As a result, people may eat less or avoid nutrient-rich foods. This leads to deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and complex carbohydrates, vital for maintaining stable blood sugar and mood balance. In early recovery, this lack of nourishment can worsen withdrawal symptoms, fatigue, and irritability.

Stimulants (Cocaine, Methamphetamine, ADHD Medications)

Stimulants suppress appetite, increase energy expenditure, and deplete nutrients rapidly. People who use stimulants often experience significant weight loss and muscle breakdown due to low protein and amino acid intake. These deficiencies affect neurotransmitter production, contributing to mental health conditions like anxiety, insomnia, and mood instability. Low magnesium and vitamin C levels are also common and can increase oxidative stress on the body.

Marijuana

While marijuana can increase appetite, frequent use may still alter metabolism and nutrient absorption. Long-term use can reduce motivation to prepare or eat balanced meals. Over time, this may lead to imbalances in essential vitamins and minerals, especially in people who replace nutritious meals with high-calorie, low-nutrient foods.

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Benzodiazepines and Sedatives

Sedative medications can slow metabolism and cause fatigue, leading to reduced food intake. Chronic use may also impact liver function, limiting how the body processes and stores nutrients like vitamins A, D, and K.

Inhalants and Hallucinogens

Inhalants often contain toxic substances that can cause nervous system and liver problems as well as kidney disease. These substances interfere with the body’s ability to absorb and utilize nutrients efficiently. Hallucinogens, on the other hand, may alter appetite and perception of hunger, indirectly leading to irregular eating patterns and nutritional deficiencies.

Nutrition Therapy for Addiction Recovery

Nutrition counseling helps your body and mind recover together. It bridges the gap between physical healing and emotional stability. When your body receives the right nutrients, it becomes stronger, clearer, and more capable of supporting your recovery journey. Here’s how it helps:

1. Restores Nutrient Levels

During active addiction, the body loses essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that keep the systems running smoothly. Nutrition counseling identifies these deficiencies and helps replenish them through personalized meal planning. As your nutrient levels rise, you feel more energetic and less fatigued.

2. Supports Brain Chemistry

Substance use disrupts neurotransmitters that regulate mood, focus, and motivation. Amino acids play a key role in repairing nerve cells and restoring healthy neurotransmitter function. You may notice fewer mood swings, sharper thinking, and a greater sense of calm as balance returns.

3. Stabilizes Blood Sugar

Irregular eating habits can cause blood sugar to fluctuate, leading to irritability and cravings. Nutrition counseling emphasizes consistent meals with complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats to steady your blood sugar. This helps you feel more focused and emotionally balanced throughout the day.

4. Reduces Withdrawal Symptoms

Good nutrition can make withdrawal easier to manage. Hydration, high-quality protein, and key vitamins and minerals help ease symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, and low energy. Many clients report fewer cravings and better sleep when their bodies are adequately nourished.

5. Improves Mental Health

The connection between nutrition and your mood is strong. When your brain receives the right nutrients, it can produce the hormones that support mental health and emotional stability. A healthy balanced diet also helps reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety while improving your ability to cope with stress.

6. Promotes Long-Term Physical Health

Years of substance use can take a toll on organs such as the liver and kidneys. Nutrition counseling helps protect and restore these systems. Medical nutrition therapy focuses on healing damage, reducing inflammation, and supporting your long-term physical health.

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What a Nutrition Counseling Session Looks Like

A nutrition counseling session in addiction treatment is structured but supportive. It usually follows these steps:

1. Initial Evaluation

The process begins with a full assessment. The registered dietitian reviews your medical history, eating habits, and lab results. They look for nutrient deficiencies, weight loss, or digestive problems. They also review medications that may affect appetite or nutrient absorption.

2. Personalized Nutrition Plan

Once your needs are identified, the dietitian creates a plan. It includes protein-rich foods, amino acids, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. The plan focuses on restoring balance to the nervous system and preventing relapse through steady energy and improved mood.

3. Nutrition Education

You learn what a healthy, balanced diet looks like. You discuss portion sizes, meal timing, and food combinations that keep blood sugar steady. You may also explore ways to reduce processed foods and replace them with nutrient-dense options.

4. Behavioral Support

Because nutrition and behavior are linked, sessions often address emotional eating or food avoidance. This is especially important for those who also struggle with an eating disorder. The goal is to develop a positive, consistent relationship with food.

5. Ongoing Monitoring

As your recovery progresses, the dietitian adjusts the plan. Blood tests and physical assessments track improvement. Over time, you will notice better sleep, energy, and concentration. Many clients describe feeling “clear-headed” for the first time in years.

Nutritional Therapy at More Than Rehab

At MTR, we understand that recovery is not just about stopping substance use. It’s about rebuilding your body and restoring balance to your mind. That’s why nutrition therapy is a core part of every addiction treatment plan we create for our clients.

Our registered dietitians and behavioral health specialists work together to identify nutritional deficiencies, design personalized meal plans, and guide you toward sustainable eating habits. Through medical nutrition therapy, we help your body recover from health issues caused by nutritional deficiencies, improve mood, and strengthen your nervous system for long-term physical health.

We offer nutrition therapy alongside other evidence-based treatments to help restore body function, stabilize blood sugar, and support overall mental health. Every step is designed to help you feel stronger, clearer, and more in control of your recovery.

If you are ready to rebuild your body and mind from the inside out, reach out to MTR today. Our team is here to help you create a healthier foundation for lasting recovery.

888-249-2191

Are Psychiatric Medications Overused in Addiction Treatment?

Addiction treatment can be complex and challenging, mainly when underlying mental disorders exist. As a result, psychiatric drugs like antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers are often prescribed to individuals with addiction to help manage these conditions and improve their chances of recovery. However, the use of psychiatric medications in addiction treatment is a controversial topic.

Some argue that these drugs are often used as a substitute for other treatments or to control behavior. There are also cases of overuse, especially when patients receive drugs for conditions they aren't suffering from.

Psychiatric medications can be effective in managing symptoms of mental disorders. But there's a growing concern about their potential for misuse or abuse and their side effects. With that said, the decision to use psychiatric drugs in addiction treatment should be made on a case-by-case basis. Treatment providers should carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks of these drugs and use them in conjunction with other evidence-based treatments, such as behavioral and group therapy.

What Are Psychiatric Medications?

Psychiatric medications are prescription drugs used to treat various mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. They work by altering the chemicals in the brain that are associated with these conditions.

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In addiction treatment, psychiatric medications help manage the symptoms of underlying mental health conditions that may be contributing to the addiction. According to SAMSHA, mental health and substance use disorders often co-occur, with each condition leading to the other about 50% of the time. Someone with depression or anxiety may turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their symptoms, and vice versa. A comprehensive approach to dual diagnosis can help ensure both conditions are addressed, helping patients manage their addiction more effectively.

Use of Psychiatric Drugs in Addiction Treatment

Psychiatric drugs can be effective in helping individuals manage the underlying mental health conditions that contribute to their addiction. They can:

Help individuals manage their cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it easier for them to stay sober.
Help improve an individual's overall quality of life. For example, antidepressants may help those with treatment-resistant depression manage symptoms and improve their mood and quality of life.
Manage symptoms of anxiety disorders and reduce the risk of relapse. In some cases, antipsychotic medications may be prescribed to patients with psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia, to help manage their symptoms and improve their ability to engage in other aspects of treatment.
Manage underlying mental health conditions, helping individuals maintain sobriety and prevent relapse.

Overuse of psychiatric drugs in addiction treatment

While these medications can effectively treat symptoms and improve the quality of life for some patients, there are concerns about overprescribing and potential side effects. Studies show that many Americans take prescribed medication that may be inappropriate or not work for their mental health problems.

Prescription medications are not always the safest or most effective route for patients. Atypical antipsychotic drugs like Chlorpromazine, Fluphenazine, Haloperidol, etc., have been shown to cause deviations in blood pressure and Tardive Dyskinesia, a movement disorder characterized by abnormal, uncontrollable, and repetitive movements of the torso, face, and other body parts.

They also cause common side effects like blurred vision, confusion and agitation, erectile dysfunction, hallucinations, and drowsiness. Yet, many Americans go to their primary health care providers and leave with a prescription drug without knowledge of other evidence-based treatments that might be more effective and without the side effects.

According to the CDC, many patients are now receiving psychotropic medications without proper evaluation by mental health professionals. This is concerning as proper evaluation and diagnosis by a mental health professional is essential to determine the appropriate course of treatment for a patient's specific condition. Additionally, overreliance on medication as the sole treatment option can overlook other critical interventions, such as therapy or lifestyle changes, that can improve a patient's mental health and well-being.

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In addition, some medications used to treat mental health conditions, such as benzodiazepines or stimulants, can have the potential for dependence and withdrawal symptoms if not properly managed. And to worsen the situation, some withdrawal symptoms can mask mental health conditions, leading to misdiagnosis and overprescription of medication. Such cases can cause life-threatening consequences, exacerbate underlying conditions, increase the risk of self-harm and suicidal thoughts, and compound mental health issues.

Overusing psychiatric medicines may create neurobiological changes that affect long-term mental health recovery. According to research, these permanent changes can turn transient symptoms into chronic and lifelong mental disorders.

Alternative Treatment Options to Psychiatric Drugs

While psychiatric medications can effectively manage certain mental health conditions, they should not be the only treatment option offered to patients. Instead, a comprehensive approach to treatment that includes therapy, counseling, and lifestyle changes should be considered alongside medication use.

Behavioral therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), can help individuals develop coping skills and strategies to manage symptoms of mental health conditions and addiction.
Holistic approaches like yoga and mindfulness practices can help reduce stress and improve mental well-being. These approaches can be used with psychiatric medications or as an alternative treatment approach.
Support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA), can provide individuals with addiction a sense of community and support.

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Psychotropic drugs can be beneficial in addiction treatment and can be life-saving for some patients. However, it is essential for a mental health professional to prescribe psychiatric medications after proper evaluations that include a patient's family history of mental health conditions and any past experiences with medication.

At More Than Rehab, we take a holistic approach to addiction treatment, utilizing evidence-based therapies and medications as appropriate and prioritizing individualized care that addresses the root causes of addiction. Our team of mental health professionals is dedicated to ensuring that medications are used responsibly and appropriately as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

We recognize that psychotropic drugs can have significant side effects and potential for dependence and therefore prioritize careful evaluation and monitoring of each patient's medication use. Ultimately, our goal is to help patients achieve lasting recovery and improved quality of life through a personalized approach to addiction treatment.

888-249-2191

Can You Get Treatment For A Xanax Addiction?

Xanax is a medication that belongs to a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs are some of the most commonly abused substances in the world. They're also responsible for a high number of emergency rooms visit across the United States. Benzodiazepines slow down the nervous system and have a calming effect on the user. Xanax is typically prescribed to treat medical conditions like anxiety and panic disorders, but it is also commonly abused for its calming and relaxation effects.

Warning Signs of Xanax Abuse

Many people use Xanax as directed by their doctor to treat anxiety or panic disorders. However, some people misuse or abuse Xanax, which can lead to serious consequences. Warning signs of Xanax addiction:

Taking more of the drug than prescribed.
Taking it more often than prescribed and continuing to use it even when it is no longer needed.
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, excessive fear, insomnia, muscle pain, depression, etc. when trying to stop taking Xanax or cut back.
Having all sorts of emotions - like mood swings, anxiety, depression, aggression, or suicidal thoughts.
Becoming more withdrawn, even from friends and family members.
Financial problems.

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People who abuse prescription drugs like Xanax may crush and snort the pills or mix them with alcohol or other drugs. Mixing Xanax with other drugs can be dangerous as it increases the risk of overdose and other serious side effects.

Side Effects of Xanax Abuse

Xanax abuse can lead to physical, mental, and behavioral health problems. Some of the most common side effects of Xanax abuse include:

Slowed reflexes
Lightheadedness
Increased sweating
Drowsiness
Confusion
Impaired judgment
Dizziness
Fatigue
Slurred speech
Impaired coordination
Headache
Nausea vomiting
Memory problems
Constipation
Sleep problems
Poor balance
Difficulty concentrating
Upset stomach
Muscle weakness
Dry mouth
Diarrhea
Irritability
Blurred vision
Appetite or weight changes
Stuffy nose
Swelling in hands or feet
Loss of interest in sex

Xanax can also cause severe or rare side effects like:

Fainting
Trouble speaking
Extreme tiredness
Shortness of breath
Increased heart rate
Harmful or suicidal thoughts
Depression or low mood, lack of interest in life
Severe allergic reaction, including facial swelling
Performing tasks, such as preparing food or driving or while not fully awake

How Addiction to Xanax Happens

People who abuse Xanax may start taking the drug as prescribed by their doctor. However, over time they may begin to take more of the drug than prescribed, or take it more often. They may continue to use the drug even when it is no longer needed. This can lead to addiction.

Xanax binds to the brain's GABA receptors and increases the level of the neurotransmitter GABA. This results in feelings of calm and relaxation. However, when people take Xanax regularly, they build up a tolerance for the drug. This means they need to take larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect.

As their tolerance builds, so does their dependence on the drug. And as their dependence grows, so does their risk of developing an addiction. Withdrawal symptoms can occur when someone dependent on Xanax stops taking the medication cold turkey.

These symptoms can include anxiety, irritability, insomnia, sweating, shaking, and seizures. If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction to Xanax, help is available.

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Xanax Addiction Treatment Options

For those seeking treatment there are different Xanax addiction treatment options available. These treatments can be tailored to the individual's needs. Some of the most common options include:

Therapy and Group Support

Therapy provides a safe space for people to process their feelings and work through any underlying mental health issues contributing to their addiction. There are different types of therapies available, such as:

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) - helps people identify and change any negative thinking patterns contributing to their addiction. CBT has been shown to increase abstinence success to 70-80% in patients addicted to Xanax.
Acceptance and commitment therapy - focuses on helping people to accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment and to commit to making changes in their lives. This type of therapy can be helpful for people who are struggling to accept their addiction and make changes in their lives. It centers around mindfulness, acceptance, defusion, values, committed action, and context.
Group therapy - involves meeting with other people who are also struggling with addiction and working together to recover. Group therapy can provide support and accountability and help people feel less alone in their struggles.

Other Medications

Many other medications can be used for the treatment of Xanax addiction. These include antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers. Each of these medications can help to ease the symptoms of Xanax addiction and allow the person to better cope with withdrawal.

Antipsychotics can help to reduce paranoia and delusions, while antidepressants can help to ease depression and anxiety. Mood stabilizers can help to even out mood swings and reduce irritability. These medications can be used with therapy and counseling to provide the most effective treatment for Xanax addiction.

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Medication Tapering

Medication tapering is a process whereby the dosage of a medication is slowly reduced over time, helping to minimize withdrawal symptoms. This approach can be used for Xanax addiction and has been shown to be effective in helping people overcome their dependence on the drug. The first step is to work with a doctor or other professional to create a tapering schedule.

This schedule will start with a high dose of Xanax and gradually reduce the amount over time. The goal is to eventually reach a point where the person is no longer taking any Xanax at all. The process can be difficult, but it is often successful in helping people break free from their addiction.

Get Help for your Xanax Addiction

If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction to Xanax, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. Many treatment options are available, and the sooner you seek help, the better. Don't wait to get help. Start your journey to recovery from addiction today.