Keeping Healthy

Most addicts don't eat properly either through lack of appetite or lack of money to buy proper food. If you are still using drugs, it is vital for you to keep your body healthy. The information listed below can also be used by people doing a detox, or that have stopped using drugs.

Using drugs can cause major damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys and liver. The immune system can be weakened by as much as 40% causing damage to the blood cells. Injecting users have a high risk of infection.

Invest in a good multi-vitamin. This will give your body everything that it is lacking through you not eating balanced meals. Listed below is a table which shows how particular vitamins and minerals can help your body. I have only included the ones I thought relevant to drug users. Try to make sure your multi-vitamin includes as many of these as possible.

Vitamin A	Critical to the development of bones and teeth. Helps maintain good eye sight and enhance the immune system. Prevents red blood cell damage
Vitamin B1	Needed by the body to process fats, proteins and carbohydrates. B1 also helps form the fuel your body needs to function.
Vitamin B2	Processes amino acids and fats. Also activates vitamin B6 and folic acid.
Vitamin B5	Converts nutrients into energy. Essential for processing fats.
Vitamin B6	The principle vitamin for processing amino acids. Also helps convert nutrients into energy.
Vitamin B12	Maintains healthy nervous system and assists with blood cell formation.
Vitamin B9/Folic Acid	Assists the normal development of cells.
Vitamin C	Helps the formation of scar tissue, fights bacterial infection. Helps detoxify and reduces drug cravings.
Vitamin D	Critical for bone development and strength. Helps blood clot. Maintains a normal and strong heartbeat and stable nervous system.
Vitamin E	Prevents lung damage from many pollutants. Vital to the immune system.
Vitamin K	Essential to blood clotting.
Calcium	Builds and maintains bone strength. Builds and maintains teeth. Helps regulate heart function. Assists in muscle growth and contraction.
Magnesium	Aids in the body’s energy production. Combats stress, assists in bone growth, helps regulate body temperature.
Phosphorus	Helps in almost every chemical reaction in the body, assists in the use of carbohydrates, fats and proteins for energy. Stimulates heart and muscle contractions, prevents tooth decay.
Potassium	Nourishes the muscles, stimulates the kidney to get rid of body wastes.
Sodium	Helps retain fluids that counteract dehydration.
Iron	Helps form hemoglobin which carries oxygen from the lungs through the blood.
Selenium	Boosts your immune system
Zinc	Aids in healing, boosts the immune system, protects against pollution

High calorie ‘meals in a drink’ are also called 'food supplements'. They can be useful if you are not managing to take in enough nourishment through balanced meals.

You can make your own energy filled drinks by liquidizing combinations of milk, fresh fruit, yogurt, honey and ice-cream and making a smoothie or milkshake. Try adding a handful of pumpkin or sesame seeds to add a few extra calories. The best thing about making your own drinks is that they usually taste great and you can control the flavor!

You can also buy ready made cartons from the chemist. These usually come in a few flavors such as chocolate, vanilla, strawberry. There are many brands on the market, such as: Fortisip, Fortifresh, Ensure Plus, Fortijuce, Enlive, Provide Xtra.

All opiates are bad for your teeth as they can restrict the production of saliva which is one of the body’s natural defenses against plaque - the commonest cause of tooth decay.

To improve your dental health find a good dentist and visit at least once a year: regular dental care can make a big difference.