Comments on dietary intake of drug-dependent persons

Interviews by means of a questionnaire were used to study the food habits and estimate the nutritional value of food eaten by forty clients in a methadone maintenance program and nineteen clients in a drug detoxification program in a drug treatment center, Marin Open House, San Rafael, California. Although responses to the questionnaires were highly varied, many subjects reported that drugs did affect appetite or cause craving for certain foods. Patients in the detoxification program tended to eat meals either once or twice a day, whereas one-third of those in the methadone program ate three or more meals daily. Over 90 per cent of the clients reported eating snacks. Foods consumed in inadequate amounts included fruits and vegetables high in either vitamin A or ascorbic acid, liver and other meats, and whole grain and enriched cereals or bread. Food consumed as reported on a 24-hr. recall was evaluated by a computer program, and the tabulation was compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Diets were considered to be inadequate if nutrient intakes were below two-thirds of the allowances. In general, the clients in the detoxification program consumed less adequate amounts of the nutrients studied than the methadone group. The females in both groups consumed less adequate diets than the males. About two-fifths of the men of both groups and about three-fourths of the women had diets inadequate in three or more nutrients by the standards chosen. In spite of the limitations of this study, the results do point to the existence and type of nutritional problems likely to be encountered in drug-dependent persons and in those undergoing treatment. The need for nutrition counseling is evident.