Contributor: Rachael Mattice is the Content Writer Team Lead for Sovereign Health Group
The human body after being addicted to either drugs or alcohol for an extended period of time requires an equal amount of time to heal after those substances are taken away. The body is a magnificent machine, but it is one that requires service and one of the easiest ways to maintain it is to keep it hydrated.
Dehydration is a condition that occurs when the loss of bodily fluids, mostly water, exceeds the amount that is being taken in via drinking or eating. A person who is in recovery from substance abuse may not feel like drinking a lot of water, but the body needs this fluid in order to heal; going without it will only make the recovery process harder.
Water Has Many Uses for the Body
Water releases toxins from the body via the urinary system, digestive system, sweating and respiration. Whether it is an alcoholic or a drug user, the body is going to be cycling out a lot of vital fluids while it is recovering from the withdrawal of not having these substances around.
The reason why the amount of fluids being expended goes up is because the body is using those fluids to move out the toxins left behind from the patient’s addiction.
Symptoms of Dehydration
When recovering from an addiction to drugs or alcohol, a person can be dehydrated and may not be aware of it. Symptoms of dehydration include:
- Increased thirst
- Dry mouth and swollen tongue
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Heart palpitations
- Confusion
- Sluggishness/fainting
- Inability to sweat
- Decreased urine output
The recommended daily water intake in normal circumstances is approximately one gallon for a man and three quarts for a woman. Remember that included in that are soups, broths, popsicles, gelatin, fruit juices and vegetables high in fluid content such as tomatoes and watermelon.
Avoid caffeinated beverages which increase fluid loss via the kidneys. Energy drinks are not recommended as they often contain large amounts of caffeine and sugar, both of which increase the chances of becoming dehydrated.
How People Can Quickly Get Dehydrated
Severe bouts of vomiting and diarrhea can quickly deplete bodily fluids and may necessitate hospitalization for intravenous fluid replacement which can also replace lost electrolytes and even prevent cardiac arrest.
Substance abuse can leave the body depleted in many areas; a person may be surprised at how much better they feel just from increasing their water intake.
Tips for staying hydrated:
- Drink from a reusable bottle daily, using tap water prevents plastic bottle waste and saves money
- If water is too bland, add a lemon or lime slice for flavor
- Make sure to drink before and after exercise
- Begin and end the day with a glass of water
- Feeling hungry? Drink water, thirst is often confused with hunger. True hunger will not be satisfied by drinking water alone
Adequate hydration for those recovering from substance abuse can be incorporated as part of the daily routine on the journey back to a healthy life. Not only will it increase the chances of successfully joining the road toward recovery, but it will also keep the body healthy and working at peak efficiency.
Community Discussion – Share your thoughts here!
Do you stay well hydrated? How do you stay focused on your water intake?
About the author:
Rachael Mattice is the Content Writer Team Lead for Sovereign Health Group, an addiction, mental health and dual diagnosis treatment provider. Rachael is a creative and versatile journalist and digital marketing specialist with an extensive writing and editing background.
Her portfolio includes numerous quality articles on various topics published in print and digital formats at award-winning publications and websites. To learn more about Sovereign Health Group’s mental health treatment programs and read patient reviews, visit http://www.sovhealth.com/
The opinions and views of our guest contributors are shared to provide a broad perspective of addiction. These are not necessarily the views of Addiction Hope, but an effort to offer discussion of various issues by different concerned individuals.
Last Updated & Reviewed By: Jacquelyn Ekern, MS, LPC on February 12th, 2015
Published on AddictionHope.com
Thanks for the information. I had no idea that addictions to drugs and alcohol would cause dehydration. I appreciate your tips for staying hydrated, especially to begin and end the day with a glass of water. This will ensure that you are getting at least some water during the day.
Thanks for the tips! My son is currently undergoing addiction recovery. He seems to be doing everything he needs to do to recover. However, I haven’t put much thought into how much water he’s been drinking. He’s had trouble with vomiting and diearrhea the past couple of days. I made sure that he would get good food to eat, but now I see that I should have been monitoring his water intake. I’ll make sure that he drinks enough water from now on now that I’m more aware of how crucial it is to keep him hydrated.