Someone with an eating disorder is five times more likely to also have a substance use disorder than the general population. Together, eating disorders and substance use disorders pose significant health risks but can be treated.
Eating disordersand substance abuseare both life-threatening conditions. In cases ofdual diagnosis eating disorders and substance abuse, stakes are exceptionally high. Researchers have wondered,“Is there a link between substance abuse and eating disorders?”and have found that both disorders share common factors and can influence the prognosis of the other.
Similarities Between Eating Disorders and Addiction
Center on Addictionreported on the link betweeneating disorders and addictionfinding sharedrisk factorsand characteristics between the two disorders. Both disorders have the following risk factors:
- Most likely to occur during times of stress
- Similar imbalances of brain chemicals
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings ofdepressionandanxiety
- Poor impulse control
- History of abuse
- Unhealthy parenting style
- Unhealthy peer norms
- Increased susceptibility to media messages and social pressures
Both eating disorders andsubstance use disorderswere also found to have the following shared characteristics:
- Obsessive preoccupation or craving
- Compulsive behaviors
- Genetic
- Secretive behaviors
- Rituals
- Social isolation
- A high rate of co-occurring disorders
- Increased rate of suicide
- Highrelapserate
Effects of Drug Abuse on Eating Disorders
Wheneating disorders and drug abuseco-occur, the adverse health effects of each disorder compound. The risk of symptom substitution increases. Symptom substitution occurs when a person switches to one behavior as the other is in remission and then shifts again at relapse. For example, a person may engage in binging and purging behaviors while not using drugs but when a substance use relapse occurs, they will stop binging and purging.
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Alcohol and Eating Disorders
The relationship betweenalcohol and eating disordershas many possible explanations. Someone may be more likely to engage in eating disorder related behaviors such as binge eating after drinking due to lowered inhibitions. Other people may feel anxious or depressed after drinking which can lead to acts such as binging and purging to attempt to change their feelings. Some people with anorexia report that drinking helps to suppress their appetite or minimize hunger pangs.Drunkorexiarefers to the practice of restricting food to drink excessively without gaining weight.
Marijuana and Eating Disorders
An eating disorder significantly impacts the relationship between marijuanaand eating disorders. A person withanorexiais not likely to use marijuana due to hunger-inducing side effects. However, a person withbinge eating disorderor bulimia may engage in marijuana use before binging. A person in recovery from either of these disorders may have a higher risk of binge relapse if they consume marijuana due to having their appetite stimulated artificially.
Eating Disorders and Stimulants
The relationship betweeneating disorders and stimulantsis relatively clear.Stimulantsare used primarily by individuals with anorexia. Stimulants are known to suppress appetite and produce artificial energy. Someone with anorexia likely struggles to ignore hunger throughout the day; artificially suppressing the appetite can relieve some of the stress surrounding the restriction of food intake.
Statistics on Eating Disorders and Addiction
Eating disorder and addiction statisticscan help demonstrate the significant relationship between these types of disorders. For example:
- Anorexia and bulimia are thetwo eating disorders most commonly linkedto substance use
- Someone with an eating disorder isfive times more likelythan someone without an eating disorder to have a substance use disorder
- Halfof all people with eating disorders have some history of substance use
Can Eating Disorders Lead to Drug Addiction?
When someone has a pre-existingeating disorder, substances may be used to assist in weight loss or to cope with the psychological stressors associated with an eating disorder. In these cases, a substance use disorder may form as occasional use edges toward dependency.
Dual Diagnosis Eating Disorders and Substance Abuse Treatment
When seekingeating disorder and substance abuse treatment,it is vital totreat both disordersconcurrently. Someone only receiving treatment for one of these disorders is at a higher risk for experiencing a setback or symptom substitution. As both conditions are severe and life-threatening, professionals recommendinpatient treatment. For a person who only occasionally uses substances but has a diagnosable eating disorder may wish to seek treatment atdual-diagnosis eating disorder treatment centers. When both disorders are fully present, co-occurringeating disorder and substance abuse treatment centersare available. The Recovery Village hastreatment centersacross the country that are equipped to treat substance use disorders with co-occurring eating disorders.
If you or a loved one struggle with an eating disorder and co-occurring substance use, help doesn’t have to wait.Contact a representativeat The Recovery Village today to take the first step in your recovery journey.
