It is very common for people to consider going cold turkey when quitting drugs or alcohol. Perhaps you’ve found this page because you’re considering doing the same thing; you’re just not sure if it’s a good idea or you need more information. 
It’s important to know what happens when you go cold turkey as opposed to going through some type of drug detox or alcohol detox. You might have a lot of questions, such as:
- Should I consider drug treatment in Idaho after I go cold turkey?
- Do I really need addiction treatment if I want to quit using drugs and alcohol for good?
- What withdrawal symptoms can I expect when quitting drugs and alcohol?
- What is the timeline of detoxification when I choose to quit on my own at home?
- What stages of detox should I be aware of?
- What other detox methods are there in Idaho for me to choose from?
You’re in the right place to get some answers to these and other questions you might have about drug detox and alcohol detox. Let’s talk about what you can expect to experience when you choose to go cold turkey. 
The Duration of Drug Detox when You Go Cold Turkey
When you think about it, when you’ve been using drugs or drinking alcohol for a period of time, your addiction has consumed your life. There is a lot of talk about “home remedies” in social media and in the news, so it can be very tempting just to stop using drugs and alcohol on your own and depend on your own willpower to get you through withdrawal. Your withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to unbearable, depending on your genetic makeup, the type of drug you’ve been using and how long you’ve been addicted. In short, everyone is different, which means the duration of drug detox is going to vary from person to person. However, in general, when it comes to the timeline of drug detox, you can expect your symptoms to peak sometime during the latter part of the first week. After that, they should start to diminish, but this isn’t the case for everyone. It’s very common for people to experience a resurgence of withdrawal a few weeks or months down the road.
Drug Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
Each drug comes with its own list of withdrawal symptoms, although it’s normal for many of these symptoms to overlap each other. You will probably go through a difficult withdrawal period whether you’re in need of:
- Heroin detox
- Cocaine detox
- Alcohol detox
- Marijuana detox
- Crystal meth detox
These symptoms can include, but are not limited to:
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger
- Rage
- Irritability
- Mood swings
- Cravings
- Shakiness
- Heart palpitations
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Delirium tremens
- Convulsions
You might experience some or most of these symptoms, but again, your experience will be different from someone else’s; even if they are detoxing from the same drug you’re detoxing from. 
Choosing Medical Drug Detox and Alcohol Detox in Idaho
The best and safest way to detox from drugs and alcohol is to do it in a medical setting where you can be monitored by qualified professionals. These individuals have worked with many people in the past, and they understand the various ways to help you detox that are safe and effective. Medical drug and alcohol detox works by giving you medication that helps your body get rid of chemicals from the drugs or alcohol you have been using. This happens at a relatively fast pace, and it can take a few minutes or it can take several hours. As you can imagine, withdrawal is common. However, you can take other types of medication to help with your withdrawal symptoms. 
After your drug detox has been completed, it’s important to consider going to some type of drug rehab or alcohol rehab in order to work on the psychological portion of your addiction. Doing so ensures that you’re able to stay quit for good and continue in your recovery. Whether you’re in need of cocaine rehab, marijuana rehab or alcohol rehab, either outpatient addiction treatment or inpatient substance abuse rehab is always recommended following drug and alcohol detox. If you have questions about whether or not medical detoxification is the right choice for you, we would love to hear from you. It’s normal to be unsure about what you should do, but with the right guidance, you can make the safest decision for your health. Please contact us if you’d like more information.
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