Some people with Alcohol Abuse Disorder (AUD) try to stop drinking suddenly without any assistance. This can be unhealthy and dangerous. Read on to learn why, and how withdrawal should be done.
What Does ‘Cold Turkey’ Mean in This Context?
‘Cold turkey’ is when someone who is a heavy drinker, or addicted to alcohol, stops drinking immediately. They don’t gradually taper down their drinking. However, this will put them into withdrawal. This may be dangerous if unsupervised, depending on how much and for how long the person has been drinking.
What Happens When You Stop Drinking Cold Turkey?
Alcohol is a Central Nervous System (CNS) depressant. This lowers or slows down CNS functioning. The brain and body become accustomed to the presence of alcohol through chronic alcohol usage and are able to adapt to it. In withdrawal, the CNS attempts to adjust to the lack of alcohol, but becomes overactive or even hyperactive and out of balance. This causes withdrawal symptoms to appear [1].
Experiencing Alcohol Withdrawal
Alcohol withdrawal has many symptoms outlined below [2]:
| Common Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms These generally don’t require medical attention | ||
| Mild anxiety | Headache | Fatigue |
| Gastrointestinal discomfort | Sweating | Insomnia |
| Craving for alcohol | Tremor | Hypervigilance |
| Vivid dreams | Irritability | Loss of appetite |
| Nausea | Vomiting | |
| Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms These require medical attention | ||
| Seizures | Hallucinosis | Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium |
Detox Process
Any program for becoming sober should not be entered into lightly. Staying sober means abstinence from using alcohol or drugs. Since alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, alcohol withdrawal involves changes in the brain to adapt.
Detox from alcohol typically takes about 7 to 10 days. Withdrawal symptoms can start as early as two hours after the last drink and peak within the first 24 to 48 hours. During this peak, individuals may experience mild symptoms. A few will develop alcohol withdrawal delirium (DTs).
After the peak, symptoms generally begin to decrease but can persist in a milder form for several weeks. The length and severity of alcohol detox can be influenced by factors like the duration of alcohol use, the amount consumed, and the presence of co-occurring mental health or medical conditions.
Is Cold Turkey a Good Idea?
Many people can successfully withdraw cold turkey with no medical attention, medications or supervision. However, stopping drinking cold turkey ideally should not be done in an unsupervised setting because of the possible side effects, some of which may be dangerous. However withdrawal is just the first step of a healing journey to uncover and process the reasons why someone was drinking to excess.
Seeking Professional Help
Alcohol Substance Use Disorder is best treated in a residential treatment center with medically supervised detox facilities. Going “cold turkey” to overcome alcohol addiction is not recommended because it’s dangerous and may not work. Trying to simply stop drinking alone will not address the underlying emotional issues behind the alcohol abuse.
Overcoming addiction is a multifaceted process involving the following elements:
- Medically-Assisted Detox: Detoxification is best done under medical supervision in a licensed detox facility. Healthcare professionals can monitor your progress and administer medications to ease withdrawal symptoms.
- Behavioral Treatments: Various forms of therapy and counseling can best help guide you through withdrawal and into maintaining sobriety. These include individual psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), among others. This may be done privately but is often best done in a residential treatment center or Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)..
- Medications: Three medications are currently approved in the US to help people stop or reduce drinking. They are prescribed by a doctor or other approved healthcare practitioner.
- Support Groups: AA, SMART and other support groups offer peer support for people cutting back or quitting their drinking.This is often combined with therapy to gain the best range of support.
You may choose to enter a residential treatment center such as we have at The Encino Recovery & Detox Center. Trained staff are equipped to provide the detox and therapy support necessary for you to reach your treatment goals. Participating in residential care greatly enhances your success rate at avoiding relapses.
Typical therapy approaches include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- 12-Step Program
- Somatic Experiencing and Body Work
- Mindfulness Meditation
- Exposure therapy
Safe Detox in Los Angeles
At the Encino Recovery and Detox Center in Los Angeles we don’t just treat addiction. We nurture the spirit, heal the mind and help you to regain your life. If you or a loved one is seeking a way out of substance abuse, private, confidential help is just a call away. Reach out to our Admissions team now.
Sources
[1] Saitz R. 1998. Introduction to alcohol withdrawal. Alcohol Health Res World. 1998;22(1):5-12
[2] Canver BR, Newman RK, Gomez AE. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. [Updated 2024 Feb 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
