What are the Risks of Quitting Drugs or Alcohol ‘Cold Turkey’
Drug addiction is a pretty common condition, with hundreds of thousands of people across the UK dealing with the disorder. Quitting these substances, though, can be extremely challenging, with the reward and behavioural centres of the brain powerfully driving drug-taking and seeking behaviour. Many people assume the most effective thing to do here is go ‘cold turkey.’ This is where someone completely stops taking a drug they are addicted to all at once, with the aim to curb their substance taking habit. However, depending on the substance, this may not be the most effective approach and frequently can be dangerous, especially with alcohol. This is why it’s usually best to seek professional guidance to successfully and safely transition to sobriety.
Generally, the success of going cold turkey really depends on the amount of support an individual receives throughout the process. A study found that only 3-5% of participants who quit smoking cold turkey abstained from relapsing six-to-twelve months after having their support system.
The Benefits of Going Cold Turkey
Withdrawal Symptoms are Overcome Faster
When a person abuses a substance regularly, their mind and body becomes dependent on the drug to function. If an addicted person suddenly stops taking a drug, they can experience withdrawal symptoms – ranging from mild to potentially dangerous symptoms. These can include:
- Intense cravings
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sadness
- Agitation and irritability
- Anxiety
- Increased heart rate
- Tremors
- Sleeping issues
- Changes in appetite
- Excessive sweating
- Flu-like symptoms
- Muscle and bone pain
- Breathing issues
- Disorientation
Depending on the drug, withdrawal symptoms can last varying amounts of times. Going cold turkey can cause extreme initial symptoms, though it allows people to get through this unpleasant experience in a fast time period.
Higher Success Rates (Drug Dependent)
People also believe that by cutting the substance out entirely, they will be less tempted to take it heavily again compared to reducing their dose over time. For substances such as nicotine, that can definitely be the case, with a 2016 study showing that an abrupt stop of using the drug was more successful that gradually cutting down in the long run.
Being Free of the Harmful Substance Sooner
Taking illicit drugs heavily or regularly can have a damaging impact on the user’s mental and physical health. For example, heavy alcohol use is linked to a range of serious health issues and can hugely increase your risk of cancer, causing 12,000 cases each year in the UK.
By going cold turkey, the person’s body can immediately start to recover from the harmful substance they were abusing. Gradually reducing the dosage of a drug means the individual will continue to take in the harmful product for longer, leading to more damage. Although, what is safer really depends on the drug as quitting cold turkey on some drugs can be fatal.
The Dangers of Going Cold Turkey
There are many benefits of this approach to getting clean from a drug, though there are definitely dangers associated with going cold turkey.
Going Cold Turkey with Smoking
There are no serious health issues associated with abruptly quitting cigarettes, though there is a likely risk that attempts will fail without the needed support – both personally and medically. However, the withdrawal symptoms from nicotine can be pretty unpleasant and users experience intense cravings for the substance.
Going Cold Turkey with Alcohol
If someone has alcohol abuse disorder, they should not quit cold turkey from the substance. There are several health risks that could happen from this – some even being life threatening. Serious alcohol withdrawals are termed delirium tremens (DTs) and can be categorised by:
- Nervousness
- Anger
- Quick onset of intense confusion
- Fever
- Dehydration
- Extreme hyperactivity
- Loss of consciousness
- Sleeping problems
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Heart and lung failure
Going Cold Turkey with Drugs
People can develop a substance abuse disorder to all kinds of drugs which impact the body in many different ways. Depending on what drug someone may be addicted to, they can have a range of different withdrawal symptoms and risks from going cold turkey. Abruptly stopping certain drugs can bring around life-threatening medical conditions, such as:
- Seizures
- Coma
- Dehydration
- Heart issues
This is why it’s always advised for dependent people to seek professional guidance when withdrawing from a drug.
Advice for Quitting
Advice for Quitting Smoking
Although cold turkey is effective for quitting nicotine, it can be difficult and uncomfortable. For those looking for another option, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can also be successful. A 2016 study showing they can increase success rates of a person quitting by 50-70%. NRT products can include gums, patches, and sprays that supply the person coming off nicotine with enough of the drug to curb withdrawal.
Other treatments and remedies include:
- Varenicline
- Bupropion
- E-cigarettes
- Acupuncture
- Cognitive-behavioural therapy
- Hypnotherapy
As previously mentioned, support is key when overcoming an addiction to nicotine. Alongside the encouragement from the people around you, support groups, therapy, or smartphone apps can also be extremely helpful.
Advice for Quitting Alcohol
According to Public Health England, there are over 600,000 dependent drinkers in England. With drinking being so ingrained in UK culture and there not being any laws to discourage consumption, alcohol use disorder is pretty common. The condition has a range from functional to severe. Although alcohol abuse should be taken seriously at all levels, those who are severely dependent should never go cold turkey without medical assistance.
Chronic dependence is treated with a medical detox, where drugs are administered to sedate the individual and prevent withdrawal symptoms. This aid helps the person move past these dangerous, initial stages of withdrawal. Those with milder dependence may be able to detox while at home, though it may be helpful to still speak to a professional for useful resources and guidance.
Advice for Quitting Drugs
Medical help is always advised when quitting any other drug. Specific medications or a tapering schedule (where someone slowly reduces their dose of drug) may be needed to carry out the process safely. There are multiple other treatments that should be carried out alongside this such as:
- Behavioural therapy
- Rehabilitation clinics
- Psychological treatment for other mental health conditions
- Long term personal care and support