Evaluation of nutritional status in drug users referred to the center of drug dependency treatment in Zahedan

ABSTRACT

Drug addiction is a lifestyle disease. An assessment of the nutritional state of addicts is often done in parallel to their medical treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the nutritional status of drug addicts. This study was conducted among 54 drug addicts [47 men and 7 women] who sought detoxification treatment at the Central Drug Addiction Treatment Hospital in center of drug dependency treatment [Baharan Hospital] in Zahedan, Iran. Age, body weight, and height were measured. Body mass index [BMI] was calculated by dividing body weight [kg] by the square of the height [m[2]]. The percentile of the BMI indicator dictated the nutritional status in the subjects. The amount of food consumed was determined according to the number of servings consumed in the different food groups and was compared to the recommended allowances given by the Food Guide Pyramid. The mean age, body weight, height, and BMI were 34.4 +/- 9.7 years, 63.1 +/- 10.1 kg, 171.1 +/- 11.6 cm, and 21.8 +/- 4.4 kg/m[2], respectively. According to the percentile status of the BMIs, the results showed that 35.2%, 20.4%, 37%, and 7.4% of subjects were wasting, at risk of wasting, normal, or overweight, respectively. When their intake was compared to the Food Guide Pyramid, 72.2% of the subjects showed a deficiency in the bread and cereal group, 67.2% in vegetables, 57.4% in fruits, 40.7% in milk and dairy products, and 24.1% in the meat group. The present study revealed different degrees of malnutrition among drug addicts with multiple deficiencies in both macro- and micronutrients