Alcohol Awareness Month: The Emily Program Calls Attention to Overlap of Alcoholism and Eating Disorders

Alcoholism and eating disorders typically share origins in neurocognitive dispositions, personality traits, and environmental factors, which require specialized treatment.

In recognition of April being Alcohol Awareness Month, The Emily Program, a nationally recognized leader in eating disorder specialty care and behavioral health services, today calls attention to the severely underrecognized overlap of the risk factors, symptoms, and treatment of people struggling with alcoholism and eating disorders.

Alcoholism, a disease under the umbrella of substance use disorder (SUD), sees millions of diagnosed patients and silent sufferers each year, and the overlap of SUD with eating disorders is considerable. 35% of individuals diagnosed with SUD also having an eating disorder – a rate 11 times higher than the general population. Further, 50% of people with eating disorders use substances – a rate five times higher than those without. Critically, treatment for the two disorders rarely overlaps.

“Alcoholism and eating disorders impact similar groups of people, relating to personality types, genetic predispositions, and environmental factors,” said Britt Davis, Midwest Senior Regional Director at The Emily Program. “Women suffering from one or the other are four times as likely to develop the other disorder as women who have neither. In treatment for both conditions, understanding and addressing this intrinsic correlation becomes critical for sustained recovery.”

Unfortunately, there is a lack of understanding of and support for the unique conditions brought by the overlap in disorders. Low self-esteem, perfectionism, lack of control, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation are all shared environmental and neurocognitive factors that contribute to the presence of both eating disorders and alcoholism. However, the two conditions are often treated in silos, without comprehensively targeting the interplay and establishing healthy coping mechanisms applicable to both.

“As someone diagnosed with both an eating disorder and alcoholism, I learned early on in my journey that I used drinking to help cope with my eating disorder thoughts and urges,” said a former patient at The Emily Program. “If I felt anxious about my body or weight, I drank. If I was filled with shame from engaging in eating disorder behaviors, I numbed with alcohol. Eventually, I realized my life depended on my ability to stay sober and work toward recovery from my eating disorder.”

There are many stories like this, though the majority of patients are not presented with the opportunity to approach recovery in a comprehensive way, impeding their potential for full recovery.

If you or someone you know is displaying symptoms of a co-occurring eating disorder and alcoholism, there are resources available. More importantly, recovery is possible. Explore additional information about The Emily Program’s integrated treatment model for eating disorders and co-occurring substance abuse here, or for an informal intake assessment, admission counselors are available seven days a week by phone at 1-888-272-0845 or via an online form. No program referral is necessary.

“For progress to be made in the holistic treatment of eating disorders, general practitioners, eating disorder specialists, and alcoholism and substance abuse specialists all must collaborate to elevate the standard of care,” said Dr. Jillian Lampert, Vice President of Communications and Brand at Accanto Health, parent company of the Emily Program. “With education comes awareness, which enables healthcare providers of all specializations to provide the best possible care for patients while meeting their unique needs.”

About The Emily Program

The Emily Program is nationally recognized for its compassionate and evidence-based approach to eating disorder treatment. With locations across the country and robust virtual care options, The Emily Program provides accessible, expert care that addresses the physical, emotional, and social aspects of recovery. For more information about The Emily Program’s services, visit www.emilyprogram.com or call 1-888-272-0845.

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