Nutrition plays an important role in recovery from substance abuse.  It is a fact that drugs and alcohol can affect metabolism, organ function, mental well-being, and can prevent the body from absorbing, digesting, and using nutrients.  This can lead to vitamin deficiencies and poor nutrition overall.  The Laurel County Expanded Food and Nutrition assistant and Family and Consumer Science Assistant worked with Crossroads inpatient facility for men struggling with drug addiction.  The assistants used Healthy Choices for Everybody curriculum to help aid in the healing process. The Class participants welcomed the information and are eager to learn more about healthy eating.  Classes are held bi-weekly to teach healthy choices.  Food samples and lessons were given to encourage more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, less sodium, fat and sugar.  Emphasis on cost was also addressed when choosing healthy foods.  Everyone tried the samples and some tried foods they thought they did not like.  One participant tried brussels sprouts in a salad and said, “It is surprisingly very tasty.”

 
The men have reported eating more fruits and vegetables and facility kitchen staff tried and enjoyed the samples and utilized some of the recipes to cook for everyone. Participants are recognizing that food, nutrition supplies the body with energy as well as important vitamins, and minerals that you need to start physical repair and boost your immune function. Participants are recognizing that proper nutrition and hydration are a key to their wellbeing, and the complete healing process. Nutrition Classes offered by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service are helping addicts recover from addiction. Nutrition education programs provided to the substance abuse population have been found to improve sobriety success rates. Just as patients with diabetes or heart disease receive nutrition education to manage their diseases, patients dealing with substance abuse attending nutrition education program classes have increased their chances of recovery.