In this study by Kemp et al. (2022), the authors investigated the use of nutritional interventions to enhance the recovery outcomes of individuals suffering from substance use disorders (SUDs), a novel adjuvant to the standard treatments available in SUDs. The authors used a sample of 33 participants (self-selected), divided into either a dietary intervention (plant-based diet, whole foods) or a control group for 10 weeks. The participants were evaluated at baseline, and the 3-week and 10-week time points underwent semi-structured interviews and had their Plant-based Diet index (PDI). Their Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) was calculated, in addition to receiving weekly nutrition education lessons. Analysis of the results revealed that all participants in the study gleaned value and meaning from the experience. The dietary intervention group had higher HEI-2015 and PDI scores compared to the control group. The dietary intervention substantially improved psychosocial outcomes as the experiment proceeded, however, it did not impact SUD recovery, which was notably seen concerning psychosocial resilience at 10 weeks. On the other hand, self-esteem improved significantly with a combination of dietary intervention and improvement in the participant’s SUD condition. The authors conclude that while the effect of a dietary intervention on SUDs was modest, it highlights the importance of utilizing the benefits of a plant-based whole foods diet and justifies further research to explore its positive impact on SUD treatment fully.
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