Co-occurence of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Eating Disorder (ED)

It is common for individuals recovering from SUD to experience additional psychiatric symptoms. In one study of women in SUD treatment, binge eating disorder (BED) and sub-threshold BED were most common, with some cases of bulimia nervosa (Czarlinski, Aase, & Jason, 2012). Men in early recovery (first 6 months) described dysfunctional eating practices including binge eating and the use of food to satisfy drug cravings, while men in mid to later recovery (7-36 months) expressed weight concerns and distress about efforts to lose weight (Cowan & Devine, 2008). It is important to recognize that body image issues can be relevant to SUD patients without necessarily implying the presence of an ED. Early recovery can be very stressful, which can lead to craving, compulsivity, and relapse risk. Wiss (2013) found that individuals with a history of SUD reported more trouble controlling their overeating when depressed. Other researchers have linked a low distress tolerance to substance abuse and to the consumption of food (Kozak & Fought, 2011). Fischer, Anderson, & Smith (2004) found that problems of alcohol use were comorbid with binge eating and purging, and that a tendency to act rashly when distressed was associated with both behaviors. The relationship between substance use and eating behavior may not be restricted to those diagnosed with SUD or in treatment (Nolan & Stolze, 2012). Examination of sixty-two non substance-dependent college students revealed that elevated food consumption is associated with higher rates and broader use of drugs and alcohol.