# Why can't Christopher have any chocolate while in rehab for heroin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 18, 2002, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357 "2002-11-18T19:12:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![buzzz\_kill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@buzzz\_kill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buzzz_kill)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/1 "2002-11-18T19:12:45Z")
Last night on the Sopranos the nurse took away Christopher’s Snicker bars before admitting him into rehab. Why? I know coco leaves are used to make chocolate, but what does that have to do with a heroin detox? Cocaine isn’t an opiate, is it? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/2 "2002-11-18T19:21:30Z")
Chocolate is made with cocoa, not coca. Don’t know the answer to your question, though. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/3 "2002-11-18T19:22:50Z")
They said that he couldn’t have chocolate because of the caffeine. Why he can’t have caffeine is the real question. I know it is a “drug” but does it really have any effect on heroin detox? ---
**Author:** ![buzzz\_kill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@buzzz\_kill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buzzz_kill)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/4 "2002-11-18T19:31:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cher3 \* > \*\*Chocolate is made with cocoa, not coca. Don’t know the answer to your question, though. \*\* --------------------------------------------------Gee, Thanks for the insight, I thought they were getting high off coconuts!:wally :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/5 "2002-11-18T19:53:37Z")
Many treatment centers remove all mood altering substances from their patients, including alcohol, nicotine, and caffiene. They also tend to control the diets pretty well too, as using food as a mood altering method is very common among addicts. Ever hear of a “moon-pie” high? QtM ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/6 "2002-11-18T20:36:53Z")
Still makes no sense… they let him keep his cigarettes. “No drugs, including caffeine, but you can have all your smokes…” Huh? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/7 "2002-11-18T20:47:35Z")
Well, it _is_ a tv show! ---
**Author:** ![Spacegirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Spacegirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spacegirl)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/8 "2002-11-18T22:50:22Z")
**Buzzz\_kill** ,Please let us know in your subject line if you are going to post spoilers about the Sopranos. Some of us don’t have HBO and won’t see season 4 until the DVD comes out. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/9 "2002-11-18T23:16:54Z")
Wasn’t there some old saw about the alkaloids in chocolate cross-reacting with the 50’s version of the heroin blood test ? ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/10 "2002-11-18T23:31:21Z")
Yeah, thanks a f\*king lot for the spoiler in the thread title. You are aptly named **Bk**. Us Canucks don’t get to see _The Sopranos_ until Tuesday. Maybe a Mod could revise the subject heading? ---
**Author:** ![buzzz\_kill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@buzzz\_kill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buzzz_kill)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/11 "2002-11-19T00:43:54Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Hodge \* > \*\*Yeah, thanks a f_king lot for the spoiler in the thread title. You are aptly named **Bk**. Us Canucks don’t get to see _The Sopranos_ until Tuesday. Maybe a Mod could revise the subject heading? \*\* ================================================== Spoil what? Did I give away the plot? Reveal some big secret? Divulge the ending of a cliff-hanging episode? No! Lighten the \*@#& Up Hodge! ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/12 "2002-11-19T00:48:54Z")
We’re gonna cut with the namecalling and all of that right now. And no, spoilers are not prohibited in GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/13 "2002-11-19T01:29:32Z")
Okay perhaps, in the heat of the moment, my post came off more strident than I’d intended. For that, I apologize. Nevertheless, my opinion remains the same, I think it’s just plain rude to post spoilers (major or minor) in thread titles. Go spoiler crazy in the body of the thread if you must, but at least give people a chance to avoid opening that thread if they so choose. Anyway, I promise not to highjack this thread any further. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/14 "2002-11-19T01:31:57Z")
You gave up the fact that Christopher is going into rehab, which is something I’d have preferred not to know, going in. It’s not hard to keep spoilers out of subject titles for a couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/15 "2002-11-19T01:52:33Z")
This is just a WAG, but chocolate is listed among a number of foodstuffs that are contraindicated during _any_ type of rehab, because it can exacerbate problem urinary incontinence. And incontinence (both urinary and bowel) _is_ often an issue during withdrawal from opiate addiction. Aren’t you glad you know that, now? ---
**Author:** ![buzzz\_kill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@buzzz\_kill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buzzz_kill)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/16 "2002-11-19T02:06:05Z")
You guys win, My Bad! I apologize for any inconvenience in your viewing pleasure! buzz\_kill passes the Peace Pipe! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/17 "2002-11-19T02:08:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > \*\*This is just a WAG, but chocolate is listed among a number of foodstuffs that are contraindicated during _any_ type of rehab, because it can exacerbate problem urinary incontinence. And incontinence (both urinary and bowel) _is_ often an issue during withdrawal from opiate addiction. > > Aren’t you glad you know that, now? \*\* ??? Cite please? I never had significant incontinence problems with detoxing any of my addict patients before, unless there were underlying medical problems. And I’m not familiar with any chocolate/incontinence link at all. Could you enlighten? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/18 "2002-11-19T02:49:06Z")
**Larry**? 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/19 "2002-11-19T03:08:25Z")
At that point in the show, **Pepper Mill** turned to me and said: “_This_ is why I could never be an addict.” Well, not a _drug_ addict, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2002, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357/20 "2002-11-19T03:09:53Z")
Sorry for the delay… I ducked out for a bit to grab some dinner. [Urinary incontinence and chocolate](http://www.classiccare.on.ca/incontinence.htm) > [@](#): > > If possible, caffeine products (coffee, tea, colas, chocolate and cocoa) should be avoided because caffeine increases urine production and can potentially cause bladder spasms. [Faecal Incontinence and chocolate](http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/digest/pubs/fecalincon/fecalincon.htm) > [@](#): > > Avoid foods that contribute to the problem. They include foods and drinks containing caffeine, like coffee, tea, and chocolate, which relax the internal anal sphincter muscle. [Incontinence and opiate withdrawal.](http://origin.dailynews.lk/2002/06/27/fea04.html) > [@](#): > > Withdrawal symptoms and signs for heroin are well documented. They include: […] > > - Diarrhoea, incontinence of urine and associated abdominal pains Anecdotally, I regret to say that I observed my brother go through heroin withdrawal at home, twice, and both times were accompanied by soiled bedding on more than one occasion. I think that _that_ probably did even more to prevent me from ever doing heroin myself than his eventual death from an overdose. While the first two links focus on the role of caffeine in incontinence, it’s worth noting that the _other_ alkaloid in chocolate, theobromine, is a mild diuretic as well, so chocolate is sort of a double-whammy on that count. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-christopher-have-any-chocolate-while-in-rehab-for-heroin/137357.md?page=2)