Expert: Jurriaan Plesman, Nutritional Psychotherapist - 11/14/2008

Question
Hi Jurriaan,
Earlier today I was looking into possible links between my sugar addiction and my heroin addiction (please do not list my email address or any personal info if you display this question on your site!) and I came across one of your answers in which you provided links to info on the connection between diet and addiction. It was particularly relevant to me at the time, as I was sitting there with a satchel of goodies at my side after having gotten high.  I have been using heroin nearly every day (if I can) for approximately 2 years now, possibly longer, I try not to count as I find it overwhelmingly depressing, and the strangest thing I find about the addiction is despite everything that it has cost me, I don't truly want to stop.  And I feel the desire to want to stop is critical if not mandatory given the physical and emotion stress involved in withdrawal.  It was somewhat encouraging to find that there may be some reason for my addiction.  To date, I have been unable to uncover the reason.  I come from a good family, I have a good job, I have a master's degree, I function very well on a day to day basis as long as I have heroin to get me through the day.  I use it like someone who would use prozac for depression.  At this point in my addiction, I can't really afford to get as high as I would like to.  Heroin has become my coffee in the morning and my tylenol pm at night.  While a part of me wishes I didn't need to take a drug to feel "normal" another part of me doesn't have what it takes to quit, nor does any part of me want to exist unable to find the energy to get up and function.  In addition to heroin addiction, I am also an alcoholic.  As with heroin, however, at no point in the day am I "drunk."  I am just continually drinking to maintain a level of balance.  I am interested in your opinion of what I have to say.  Does this feed into your opinion about a physiological imbalance?  I was never diagnosed with hypoglycemia, but I'm not sure I've ever had blood sugar levels evaluated either.  I would be welcome to any additional information you could provide me with that may help me begin to understand what is wrong with my body/mind and how I can utilize that understanding to work on a path to recovery if I ever do find the desire within myself to want to change.
Thank you for your time!
H

Answer
Dar Heather, Your remarks brought back memories when I was addicted to psychotropic drugs due to mood disorders. I too functioned reasonable well - as I thought - so long I had access to my drugs.

You are so right, addicts are proven to be hypoglycemic as a major cause of addiction.

Please test yourself with the

The Nutrition-Behavior Inventory Questionnaire (NBI) at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/nutrition-behavior_inventory.html

and

The Hypo Quizz at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.org/hypo_test.asp

and if you score above normal, you are likely to have a hypopglycemic syndrome, which could be responsible for the symptoms, and which can be treated by going on a hypoglycemic diet.

Please read:

Drug Addiction is a Nutritional Disorder at:
http://www.hypoglycemia.asn.au/articles/drug_addictions_nutritional_disorder.htm...

and I am sure once you understand the biochemical underpinnings of addiction, you will be able to help yourself overcoming addiction.  Go on the hypoglycemic diet and don't be discouraged when you falter and lapse so now and again. So long you stick to the diet, in the end you will be drug-free.

Please let us know how you get on.

_______________________________________________
Jurriaan Plesman
Hon. Editor of
The Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia.
www.hypoglycemia.asn.au
Author of "Getting off the Hook"
Freely available at Google Book Search
Skype: jurplesman