Food Addiction vs. Drug Addiction: How are they Alike?
For years, there has been a debate on whether or not there are similarities between food and drug addiction. However, studies have shown that both addictions have similar characteristics. There are many ways a food addiction and drug addiction are alike.
Reward System in the Brain
The most relevant similarity between these two addictions is the response in the brain. The NIDA defines addictions as a compulsive drug use that characterizes a relapsing brain disease regardless of consequence.
Drugs and some processed junk foods create an enjoyable sensation in the brain through the neurotransmitter dopamine, which control pleasure and self-control. This is okay in small doses, but if it is continued, the addictions will change the way the brain works and appears by reducing the dopamine receptors, thus making substances less of a want and more of a need.
Oh Those Cravings
Food addiction causes similar withdrawal symptoms as drug addiction.
Like a drug addiction, compulsive eaters will find themselves craving processed junk food. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, studies have shown that foods made rich with large amounts of salt, sugar, and flour can cause increases in the dopamine within the brain, which causes a craving for those foods.
These foods can be more addictive than some other drugs in a few ways, which can cause adverse affects like obesity and heart problems.
Much like a drug addiction, a food craving can be triggered with something as simple as milkshakes, which will only serve to fuel the addiction. Both addictions can cause the user to continue to use their substance long after everything that matters to them have gone.
Food addictions usually do not involve criminal activity like drug addictions do, but they do have many serious health problems such as diabetes and heart diseases.
Withdrawal and Tolerance Symptoms
Two of the best ways to discover an addiction is to look for a tolerance and withdrawal to the substance. People suffering from a food addiction can eat larger doses of their food but feel discomfort when they try to quit.
In several studies, the withdrawal symptoms of food such as anxiety or tremors are very similar to that of a drug addiction.
Along with the abuse of drugs or food, the person can feel ashamed and withdraw from their loved ones in order to binge eat. Some may even give up their extracurricular due to changes in their appearance or new bad habits. Especially those who gain weight may withdraw from their lives completely for fear of judgment or teasing.
People with a drug addiction can fall under the delusion that they can quit whenever they want. Similarly, people with a food addiction can believe that they just like to eat, so they do not have a problem. Much of this has to do with the denial of how much they actually eat based on an underestimated number of calories he or she eats.
Recovering from a drug addiction can be a long, frustrating process due to the relapses an individual may have. Similarly, food addicts experience failed attempts at eating well and despite dieting, they can go back to old habits fast.
The only way to recover from either addiction is through treatment with professionals who will know how to handle the physical and mental ramifications of the substance addiction.
Food and drug addictions share many similarities. Both share an influence on the reward system of the brain, cravings, withdrawal and tolerance symptoms, and denial about their condition.
If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction and needs help, call 888-646-0635Who Answers? to speak with a caring specialist that can assist you.
It is a well understood concept that treating one aspect of addiction without treating the others leaves an addict vulnerable to relapse. Holistic drug and alcohol rehab programs are designed to treat the whole self including the mind, body, and spirit of the individual to ensure a more successful recovery. About Holistic Drug and Alcohol….
When you enter drug rehab you will spend a lot of time with your drug counselor so it’s important that you understand who they are and how they can help you. If you don’t feel comfortable with your drug counselor than you won’t be able to get the most out of your treatment and therefore….
The decision to seek help for addition is already a difficult decision to make and then trying to determine how you can afford such treatment is even more concerning. Figuring out how to pay for drug rehab is often the one thing that holds people back from getting treatment. Most importantly, you can’t wait to….
The number of people who suffer from prescription drug addiction is simply alarming—it’s in the millions and more people seemingly become addicted every single day. Prescription drugs are creating the fasting growing addiction epidemic ever! In fact, this substance abuse issue poses significant problems for both the patients and the physicians because there is a typical scenario….
Many people don’t understand the seriousness of prescription drug abuse for one very simple reason: they believe these drugs to be 100 percent safe. While it is true that these are safe to take under the eye of a medical professional, there is always the possibility of abuse and addiction. Just the same as street….
Casual drinkers, social drinkers and moderate drinkers can all fall prey to alcohol’s effects when the number of drinks consumed gradually increases over time. When withdrawal symptoms or “hangover” drive a person to drink as a means of relief, it’s likely a physical dependency is at work. Once a person starts drinking as a way….
Detox is often the first part of a long-term, effective treatment program for individuals who become addicted to drugs. While it isn’t always necessary (and it certainly isn’t the only component to addiction treatment by far), detox is used at the beginning of many rehab programs for a reason. In addition, patients who attend detox….
The decision to seek treatment at a drug rehab center can be life saving, finding the right drug rehab center to provide that treatment is dire. Drug rehab centers provide a safe place for those suffering from addiction to recover and begin to learn new life skills to maintain long term sobriety. There is no….
The traditional twelve-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous outlines a course of action that is set for the recovery from addiction or compulsions as well as other behavioral problems. This 12-step type treatment was originally designed as a means of recovering from alcoholism but is now synonymously used for the treatment of all types of addiction…..
The National Survey on Drug Use & Health estimated that more than 1.2 million Americans who were over the age of 12 had used methamphetamine at least once in their lifetime. This habit forming drug can result in a lifetime of consequences and for some will lead to addictive behaviors that require treatment and rehabilitation….
Calls to numbers on a specific treatment center listing will be routed to that treatment center. Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.