When an addict finally decides to quit their drug abuse, a lot of times they will want to go off drugs cold turkey to prove to others, and themselves, that they are serious. While it is understandable to want to stop taking drugs immediately, quitting completely after developing addiction is a horrible idea that could lead to several serious health complications. Many of the health complications that come with stopping cold turkey stem from the development of withdrawing in a recovering addict. Withdrawal is when a person develops a physical need for drugs or alcohol; typical withdrawal symptoms include sweating, goosebumps, vomiting, muscle pain, and insomnia. Withdrawal does not only cause physical pain to the sufferer, but it can also cause physiological distress increasing the likely hood of anxiety and depression in an addict.
While most drugs share the same symptoms of withdrawal, some specific drugs will have variations of withdrawal systems based on the effect the drug has on a person and when it is taken. The severity of the symptoms is different from person to person, with some not noticing any problems until a few weeks after quitting and others feeling the effects of withdrawal almost immediacy. There are extremely rare cases where people have been able to quit their addiction on their own, but even in these cases the recovering addict will still have a chance of relapse or feeling the pains of withdrawal. While it might be tempting to quit on your own, recovering from addiction is a long and dangerous process that should be handled by professionals. Detox programs, like the ones at Asana Recovery, are perfect for helping addicts begin the process of riding their body of their drug needs.
Detox is an extended period of time where patients are made to cut out all drugs and alcohol from their life so that the body can rid itself of all harmful substances. While detox sounds similar to going cold turkey, it is much different and much safer as the patient will be watched and couched through the process to make sure their withdrawal symptoms don’t get out of hand. Part of the detox process that helps with withdrawal is that some patients are giving small amounts of prescription and non-prescription drugs to help alleviate the symptoms withdraw. These drugs are given in small enough doses that the recovering addict will feel the reliving effect of the drug, but not take enough to contaminate the detox process. Patients are also monitored and checked up on regularly to ensure that they are not in any paint from their system and that they are keeping to the detox program.
Even when the patient completes the detox program, this doesn’t mean they are completely cured of their addiction or won’t have any draws to their drug of choice again. The detox program is not a cure, it is just the first step on the long road to recovery. If you or a loved one wants to begin their path to a drug-free life, please visit us at Asana Recovery.
