The Association between Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse
Eating disorders and substance abuse share common characteristics that are rooted in a deep, complex matrix of biological and environmental causes. Researchers are learning that both eating disorders and substance abuse are connected with pleasure centers in the brain and both types of disorders are very challenging to overcome.
Recently Adrienne Ressler, MA, LMSW, CEDS wrote an article about the relationship between eating disorders and substance abuse that was published in Social Work Today. She explored the common characteristics of the two types of disorders and contrasted the treatment involved with overcoming them. Recovery is also approached differently with the two disorders.
Ressler discusses the root of addiction, the challenge of satiation for both individuals with substance abuse problems and those with eating disorders. For those suffering from either type of disorder, the drive for more is never satisfied, and even immediate fulfillment is not fast enough to quell the hunger or craving inside.
The rate of eating disorders among those with substance abuse is much higher than that of the general population, and the reverse is also true. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse reports that up to one-half of those who have eating disorders also abuse alcohol or illicit drugs, compared with 9 percent of the general population. Likewise, over a third of those who abuse alcohol or illicit drugs have eating disorders, compared with 3 percent of the general population.
Until recently, treatment facilities focused on recovery for either eating disorders or substance abuse, without regard for the influence of other mental disorders. Once a causal relationship was suspected, however, treatment facilities are moving toward screening for additional disorders when planning a strategic treatment plan that addresses the root of the disorders.
There are several theories about the co-occurrence of eating disorders and substance abuse. Among them is the position that substance abuse occurs among eating disorder sufferers to alleviate negative psychological symptoms. Eating disorders may occur among people with substance abuse problems when they overeat to comfort themselves during symptoms of withdrawal.
The recovery process is very different for eating disorders than it is for overcoming substance abuse. For instance, the individual working to recover from substance abuse is focused on abstinence, while those with eating disorders cannot abstain from food. While substance abuse demands an end to the relationship with the substance, eating disorder recovery requires a redefining of the relationship with food.
Ressler’s paper explores the themes of comparison and contrast between eating disorders and substance abuse extensively. After comparing risk factors and characteristics, the article explains methods for treatment and recovery and discusses options for screening to discover the co-occurrence of the two types of disorders. Ressler’s paper provides an important source for understanding the combination of these disorders often found in those seeking treatment.
