Similar addictive tendencies are present in eating disorders as they are in other varieties of addiction, like gambling or drug addiction. Usually, they are categorized by bad eating habits brought on by compulsive and obsessive tendencies. Although eating disorders may affect people of any gender or age, they most frequently afflict young women.
Having compulsive behaviors that can be challenging to break, eating disorders share diagnostic characteristics with drug addiction. In addition, many turn to drug misuse as a coping mechanism because persons with eating disorders frequently have a negative body image and also co-occurring conditions including despair and anxiety. This frequently results in full-blown addiction.
Detox to Rehab can be visited as this rehab center is the right place for the treatment for eating disorders & addiction problem, in case you are suffering from such issues.
Relationship Between Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders
Substance abuse and eating disorders are closely related. Similar to other psychological problems, having an eating disorder raises the possibility that a person would try to use drugs or alcohol for self-medication. Patients who self-medicate run a very high risk of becoming dependent or addicted because they get acclimated to the melded or altered symptoms.
Additionally, some medicines, e.g., stimulants like Adderall, cocaine, and meth all of which reduce hunger without causing harmful side effects, can actually help an eating disorder. People having eating disorders benefit from other drugs and alcohol and any other depressants because they reduce their stress and anxiety related to food.
According to a 2003 study, those having eating disorders were 5 times more likely than those without to alcohol or illegal drugs abuse. Those with eating disorders were found to abuse drugs and alcohol at a rate of 50%, compared to about 9% of the overall population.
On the other hand, those who misused alcohol or illegal drugs had an 11-fold increased risk of having a certain eating disorder compared to those who never had. Compared to 3 percent of the population, up to 35 percent of individuals who misused or were drug and alcohol dependent have experienced eating disorders in the past.