Rock bottom.
Everyone who’s ever battled substance abuse likely knows it — the day they reached their breaking point and made their decision to quit. Many people in recovery call it their “sober birthday,” remembering the day as the last time they used the substances they’re recovering from.
Hitting the lowest point is exactly as unpleasant as it sounds. So, it’s not surprising some people attempt to climb out as rapidly as possible, immediately stopping all substance use and white-knuckling out the withdrawal symptoms. Possibly named after a skin response to stress, the idea of going “cold turkey” from substance abuse seems like an ideal route for someone beginning their recovery.
It isn’t – not only does the cold turkey approach tend not to work, but it’s also frequently dangerous, too.
The Temptation Of Quitting All At Once
It’s easy to see why cold turkey appeals: if there’s one thing Americans admire, it’s independence. Taking a hard stand against one’s own substance abuse by suddenly quitting can seem principled and brave.
Others perhaps see cold turkey as a redemptive act, a way of putting themselves through deliberate hardship as a form of making amends for wrongs against themselves, friends, and family. And for others, cold turkey might seem like a shortcut, a way to jumpstart their journey into recovery … or a way to avoid unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
And in some cases, cold turkey indeed seems to work.
Take smoking: A study conducted in 2016 seemed to find suddenly quitting smoking led to a successful outcome more often. However, the researchers note that the participants in the study also received support when they were trying to quit. Meanwhile, an earlier study of people who took a cold turkey approach to smoking without support found a success rate only between 3 and 5%.
Nicotine’s an extremely addictive substance, sure. But there are some important differences between nicotine and substances like alcohol and opioids.
Namely, the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal: When The Body Is Convinced It Needs Substances
Use any addictive substance long enough, you’ll eventually experience physical dependence. Perhaps the largest red flag in addiction, physical dependence marks the stage when a user has to keep using their substance to avoid physical symptoms.
Over time, addictive substances convince the body it needs them to function normally. Using drugs causes the body to release large amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which creates the “rush” many drug users want to experience. It also throws off homeostasis, the body’s sense of internal stability.
Without drugs, the body returns to normal function, and the lack of dopamine causes users to experience anxiety and depression as they withdraw. As the body tries to rebalance homeostasis, it also causes many of the physical symptoms of withdrawal.
Anyone who’s ever tried to quit smoking knows nicotine withdrawal is a real thing. Agitation, depressive thoughts, cravings – many of the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal mirror those experienced by people recovering from stimulant use.
However, some substances have far more severe withdrawal effects, ranging from the unpleasant to the potentially lethal:
- Opioids (including heroin and fentanyl): Withdrawal symptoms from opioids are well-known and have been depicted in books, television, and film. Many of the symptoms – muscle aches, sweating, nausea – mirror those of the flu, only much more intense. For patients who have been using for years or are dealing with diseases like hepatitis C and HIV, opioid withdrawal can be dangerous and potentially lethal.
- Alcohol: Many of alcohol withdrawal’s symptoms are similar to opioid withdrawal. However, there’s an additional threat: long-term alcohol abuse can cause hallucinations, seizures and a condition known as the DT’s (delirium tremens) when someone stops drinking. Although rare, these symptoms can overwhelm a person’s systems, causing heart attacks, high blood pressure and even death.
- Benzodiazepines: Like alcohol, benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause hallucinations and seizures if use isn’t tapered off gradually. In rare cases, benzo withdrawal can cause long-lasting (though milder) withdrawal symptoms.
Again, it’s easy to see why anyone would want to face and get through these symptoms as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, it’s also to see why that’s dangerous. Having a supportive detox environment is a critical aid in the early stages of addiction recovery.
Don’t Recover Alone: There Is No Shame In Asking For Help For Drug & Alcohol Treatment
Recovering from substance abuse is never easy, particularly if you’re going it alone. Being a part of a community of care helps – not only are you surrounded by people who have the same goal, you also learn ways of navigating recovery, learning coping strategies as you transition through care and into a new, healthy life.
This is especially important during detox; not only can you receive support – including medication – as the substances leave your system, but you also detox in a medically-supervised environment, giving you a vital safety net as you navigate withdrawals.
One thing which makes post detox life easier is sober living. Not only is it an added layer of protection from drug cravings, triggers, and other temptations, it’s also a chance to create new, healthy relationships with others. SoberLivingNearYou.com puts thousands of sober living homes at your fingertips. Discovering your ideal sober living solution has never been easier!
