Nutrition Disorder Treatment Specialist in Rochester, NY

When someone is suffering from substance abuse, they are much more likely to not be able to absorb or consume all of the nutrients that they require to be healthy. The most common nutritional deficiency related to substance abuse is vitamin B1, B6, and folic acid, particularly for those who consume heavy quantities of alcohol. Many women who abuse alcohol will lack sufficient levels of calcium in their diet, increasing their risk of developing osteoporosis. Abuse of stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine, and crack) will often lead to a suppressed appetite, causing the user to not consume enough food to have the nutrients they require. Stimulants can also cause people to become dehydrated and develop imbalances of electrolytes while using them. Marijuana tends to make users have an increased appetite with less regard for nutritional value in the foods that they consume, often leading to long-term frequent users becoming overweight and consuming unhealthy quantities of fat and sugar.

Substance abuse will often lead to malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies, as most substances will either act as an appetite suppressant, disrupt metabolic regulation, or lead to increased appetite, with most of those who suffer from substance abuse not being able to eat enough nutritional food. Aside from causing the user to no longer be able to maintain a healthy, nutritious diet, there are certain nutrients that are actually more difficult to be naturally absorbed by the body when using drugs, including vitamin D, all of the B vitamins, amino acids, and iron. It is very common for those who are abusing substances to no longer be mindful of their diet, both in quantity and quality, which can quickly lead to malnutrition and decreased mental health, often making the addiction worsen.

With more than one-quarter of the global population affected, iron deficiencies are the most common nutritional deficiency and lead to anemia, one of the most common nutritional disorders. Iron is considered an essential mineral and plays a massive role in our overall health by being one of the main components in red blood cells, binding to hemoglobin, and transporting oxygen to the rest of the cells in the body. Anemia can quickly affect one’s quality of life by causing symptoms of chronic fatigue, weakness, sensitivity to cold temperatures, and difficulty breathing when participating in exercises. Iron deficiencies most commonly affect women at birth and children, often leading to developmental delays in children and affecting their abilities to learn, grow, and even alter their behavior. It is very common for those who are pregnant to suffer from anemia, which, when severe, will often lead to complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Our multi-disciplinary team of experts offers nutritional disorder treatment for those who are recovering from substance abuse, as the two very often come hand in hand but are not typically both considered a combined treatment. Recovering from substance abuse frequently requires the patient to make significant and uncomfortable changes to their diet in order to ensure that they are able to support their physical and mental health by getting enough nutrients from their diet during recovery. Our treatments all include chemical abuse and mental illness support through an individualized treatment plan that relies on a team that consists of a psychiatrist, and social workers. Licensed mental health counselors, credentialed alcohol substance abuse counselors, art therapists, and nurses ensure that each individual patient has the specialized care and focus that they need in order to be successful. We offer treatment services such as group therapy, one-on-one counseling, and medication-assisted treatment, integrating the support of each patient’s family members throughout the entire process from assessment to being discharged to ensure that our patients will continue to get the support they need once they no longer need our team specifically.

If you are looking for a treatment to deal with our nutritional disorders, visit us at Westfall Associates. We would love to serve you. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 919 Westfall Road Building B, Suite 60 Rochester, NY 14618. We serve patients from Rochester NY, Brighton NY, Pittsford NY, West Henrietta NY, East Rochester NY, Irondequoit NY, and surrounding areas.