Are You a Food Addict?

By Dr. Muhammad Feteiha, Bariatric Surgeon

If you are obese or morbidly obese you may be wondering if you are a food addict. Addiction to food has become more common, especially with people’s hectic lifestyles and the availability of cheap, large portioned food in restaurants. Increases in high fat and high sugar foods in our grocery stores and restaurants have only worsened the problem. Food addiction is a serious problem that must be treated much in the same way as other addictions including drugs, alcohol or gambling. Addiction can be, at very least, disruptive both physically and emotionally and in certain cases can cause long-term physical and emotional damage. [Read more...]

The Importance of Boundaries in Addiction Treatment

Boundaries in addiction treatment are an essential part of the client counselor relationship. In fact, they protect both the client and the counselor and they remain intact even during the inevitable ups and downs of addiction counseling. Boundaries are important because they:

• Reduce the chance of the exploitation (intentional or unintentional) of a client
• Create a definitive role for both the client and the counselor
• Create a framework of rules under which counseling can continue
• Offer a role-model for the client

Boundaries are set at the very beginning of treatment and it is the counselor’s responsibility to make sure they are adhered to. Boundaries need to work in the best interests of the client and can be negotiated – sometimes based on cultural and/or personal preferences or differences.

While it may seem unfair that the counselor is ultimately responsible for maintaining boundaries, it is clear why this is. A) The counselor is the professional, B) the client may not understand the need and importance of having boundaries and C) there is a power imbalance between counselor and client. In other words the counselor is often perceived as being dominant party.

Blurred and broken boundaries can come with significant ramifications that include disciplinary action in an ethical and legal sense. The counselor can incur significant punishment for crossing the line. However not all boundaries are black and white nor defined very easily. Often, counselors have to make a split second decision on what to say or do. Some examples of blurred boundaries include:

• Self-disclosure
• Offering or accepting gifts
• Dual relationships
• Becoming friends
• Physical contact

Ultimately, it is part of a counselor’s job to fully understand the depth of their relationship with a client. This is what we do and our jobs depend on our ability to make the best decisions for ourselves and our clients in mind.

Difficulties in Treating HIV in Drug Users

The difficulty in treating HIV and AIDS in drug abusers lies partly in the fact that many of these abusers are not actively seeking treatment in licensed facilities that can treat the co-occurring disorders. Oftentimes, even medically trained physicians are not able to properly diagnose a substance abuse problem. This allows the addiction to continue undetected.

Further, proximity to care and willingness to receive treatment is a major hurdle in treating HIV and AIDS. Because most drug abusers who have contracted HIV are Injected Drug Users, they tend to be found in areas with less access to treatment facilities and hospitalization services. Traditionally, outreach to these groups has been very difficult and communities and treatment centers must figure out how to reach these people effectively to effect significant change. [Read more...]