Josh Peck’s drug, alcohol use after weight loss sparks talk about ‘addiction transfer’

Quitting booze for one month could drastically improve your life

In a recent podcast episode, actor Josh Peck, most known for his role in Nickelodeon’s “Drake & Josh,” discussed the pressure of growing up with fame as a “morbidly obese” teenager and the role that played in his past drug and alcohol addiction.

Losing weight, Peck assumed, would fix his problems. The realization that it didn’t tipped him over the edge. Drugs and alcohol helped cushion his fall when food no longer could.

“At 17 I lost all this weight…I thought, ‘I’m at the finish line, I did it, now I don’t have to worry about anything,’” Peck said on an Oct. 20 episode of “Cancelled with Tana Mongeau.” “But I was just still plagued with the same thoughts and things that had always messed with me my whole life.”

Why addiction transfer sometimes happens after weight loss

Similar to Peck’s experience, many people assume that a slimmer body is the answer to their problems. But without treating the underlying cause behind an existing addiction, some run the risk of replacing it with another potentially more dangerous one.

“They’ll put all their eggs in that basket and feel hopeful while having unrealistic expectations of what life is going to be like afterwards,” said Alexis Conason, a licensed psychologist and certified eating disorder specialist who has studied addiction transfer. “When we lose a lot of weight, it sometimes happens very quickly and often in a way that feels outside of people’s control.”

Research on addiction transfer after weight loss

Research has found that people can develop addictions after significant weight loss to other things too, such as gambling, shopping, exercise, skin picking, and the internet — all of which serves as an emotional escape from the overwhelming lifestyle changes tied to weight loss.

The trade-off is mostly associated with people who undergo weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy, because the procedures lead to a dramatically reduced food intake and body weight over a relatively short period of time. However, experts say it can happen after natural weight loss too, and potentially after weight loss via medications like Ozempic, although that remains to be seen.

Addiction transfer can happen to anyone

Addiction transfer after significant weight loss can happen even to those with no prior history of addiction, whether it’s to food, drugs, alcohol, or another substance or behavior.

In a small 2022 study of 97 patients who had a sleeve gastrectomy, researchers found that 1 in 5 “non-high risk drinkers” (a total of 84 people) developed an alcohol problem one year after their procedure.

That said, a history of addiction is generally associated with increased risks of addiction transfer after weight loss. The prevalence of food addiction prior to weight loss surgery ranges from about 14% to 58%, according to multiple studies.

Preventing addiction transfer after weight loss

The best way to avoid the phenomenon altogether is to work with a mental health professional, preferably one who’s trained to treat addictions and food-related disorders, before, during, and after your weight loss journey.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
   • Indicator 3.5.1: Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial, and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
   • Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex, and persons with disabilities.

The article discusses the issue of addiction transfer or cross addiction after significant weight loss. This issue is connected to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, which aims to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. The specific target under SDG 3 that can be identified is Target 3.5, which focuses on addressing substance use disorders. The article highlights the phenomenon of addiction transfer from food to drugs and alcohol after weight loss.

The article also touches on the impact of weight loss on individuals’ perception of themselves and their relationships with others. This relates to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, which aims to promote social, economic, and political inclusion for all individuals, regardless of their physical appearance or body size. The specific target under SDG 10 that can be identified is Target 10.2, which focuses on empowering and promoting the inclusion of all individuals. The article mentions the challenges individuals face when their bodies change faster than their body image can adjust, leading to body dysmorphia and potential negative consequences in personal relationships.

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Source: usatoday.com

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