A Preliminary Study Examining Nutritional Risk Factors, Body Mass Index, and Treatment Retention in Opioid-Dependent Patients

Poor nutritional health among opioid-dependent individuals is well established, yet no nutritional screening tool exists for this specific population. The utility of "Determine Your Nutritional Health" developed by the Nutrition Screening Initiative is considered. The study examines the questionnaire's relevance in patients beginning opioid dependence treatment at a methadone-assisted treatment program (N = 140) by examining nutritional risk factor prevalence, body mass index, and association between nutritional risk level and treatment retention. The majority of patients reported at least one nutritional risk factor (89 %) and 59 % were at high nutritional risk. Body mass index was not related to nutritional risk; however, a trend was identified between increasing nutritional risk and decreased retention in treatment. These preliminary findings suggest the need for incorporation of nutritional screening at intake in opioid treatment programs, consideration of the effect of dietary risk on treatment retention, and the potential utility of this screening tool.