Thinking About Doing A Drug Detox At Home? You Might Want To Think Twice

What you will learn

• Detox is the process of eliminating a substance from your body and going through withdrawal.
• At-home detox involves quitting a substance and experiencing withdrawal at home without medical supervision.
• Some substances, like alcohol and benzodiazepines, can have life-threatening withdrawal symptoms and complications.
• Medical detox provides support and care from medical professionals to prevent complications and keep you safe and comfortable.

If you’re struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol, the first step toward recovery is detoxification or detox. This is the process of clearing the substance from your body and going through withdrawal.

Some people want to complete drug detox in the comfort of their own homes. While this is understandable, it’s not the safest or most effective option. Learn more about drug detox at home, its risks, and what to consider.

Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Using drugs or alcohol for prolonged periods can cause dependence. This means your body has become accustomed to the presence of the substance and needs it to function. When you stop using the substance suddenly, withdrawal symptoms occur as your body readjusts to its absence.

The severity of drug withdrawal symptoms can vary by the individual, the substance involved, and other factors, including:

• The drug’s half-life
• The dosage
• The length of use
• Your health and genetics
• Whether you used multiple substances simultaneously

Withdrawal syndromes for different drugs can range from mild to severe. Some drugs have withdrawal syndromes that can last weeks, as well as protracted withdrawal symptoms that can last for months. This is common with benzodiazepines and alcohol, though it can occur with opiates, stimulants, and other substances.[1]

In addition, some substances have withdrawal syndromes that can have life-threatening complications. Alcohol and benzodiazepines are known to be dangerous because of rare complications like seizures (both alcohol and benzodiazepines) or delirium tremens (alcohol only).[2,3] Other drugs may have withdrawal risks, such as the risk of dangerous electrolyte imbalances with opiates brought on by persistent vomiting and diarrhea.[4]

Drug Detox at Home

Detox is an essential foundation for the recovery process. It breaks the physical dependence of the drug and allows you to focus on the social, emotional, and psychological aspects of addiction in a range of treatment sessions.

Home detox involves stopping drug or alcohol use on your own, usually “cold turkey,” in your own home instead of a hospital or rehab environment. People may choose to detox at home because they don’t have access to a professional facility, they’re concerned about the costs of treatment, or because they’re embarrassed about their condition and want privacy. Some may want to “tough it out” and detox on their own out of a misguided belief that drug and alcohol addiction is a matter of willpower.

The Dangers of At-Home Detox

The motivations behind detox at home are understandable. You have the comfort of a familiar environment, but you don’t have the aid of medical professionals to monitor your health, administer medications as needed, or intervene if complications arise.

Here are some risks of at-home detox:

Dangerous Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening complications, depending on many factors. If you try to detox from a substance with the potential for dangerous complications, such as alcohol or benzos, you can die if symptoms arise without medical help.

No Medical Support

The detox process can be long and intense. Professional detox provides medical support and supervision to monitor and manage your symptoms, keeping you as safe and comfortable as possible. At home, you’re extremely limited in what medications and comfort measures you can provide.

Poor Health

Proper nutrition and hydration are important during detox to replenish what your body may lose during detox. Aside from the risks involved, poor nutrition and dehydration can compromise your health and make it more difficult for you to stay healthy and recover.

High Risk of Relapse

Detoxing at home without the support and supervision of medical professionals can increase the likelihood of relapse. The cravings in detox can be intense and irresistible, especially with some substances. Severe withdrawal symptoms, such as muscle and joint pain, persistent vomiting and diarrhea, and psychological effects like anxiety and depression, can encourage relapse just to relieve the discomfort.

Overdose Risk

If you do detox at home and succumb to relapse, you may be at an increased risk of overdose. After a period of abstinence, your tolerance for drugs or alcohol begins to decrease. If you relapse with a dosage that you’ve used in the past, your body may not be able to handle it, and you may overdose.

Substances with Dangerous Withdrawal Symptoms

All substances can have potentially dangerous withdrawal complications, but some have a much higher risk. These include:

Alcohol

Alcohol detox can be dangerous without medical supervision. If you try to detox from alcohol at home, you’re at a much higher risk of potentially lethal complications like hallucinations, seizures, and delirium tremens.

Benzodiazepines

At-home drug detox from benzodiazepines can be extremely dangerous. Withdrawal can cause panic attacks, severe anxiety, hallucinations, and seizures. Some benzo withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks or months, so it’s essential to detox with medical supervision.

Opioids

Opioid and opiate withdrawal is not often thought of as dangerous in the same way as alcohol or benzos, but dangerous complications can and do occur. Severe and persistent vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration levels that can cause life-threatening electrolyte imbalances and organ failure. In addition, opioid withdrawal often has intense cravings and pain, which raises the risk of relapse and a possibly fatal overdose.

The Benefits of Professional Medical Detox

The safest way to detox from any substance is with professional medical detox. A comprehensive detox treatment program with a medical team can provide care and support while you go through withdrawal.

One of the primary benefits of medical detox is preventing dangerous complications like seizures. They can provide medications or supportive care as needed, and if a medical emergency occurs, they can deliver life-saving care and support.

Medical staff can also provide medications to manage your symptoms. For example, certain medications may be used to help with the discomfort of alcohol and benzo withdrawal.[5] Opioid antagonist medications, such as buprenorphine, may be used with opioid withdrawal to help with cravings and pain.[6] Medications may be used for other symptoms as well, such as anxiety, depression, or insomnia.

Finally, medical detox provides supervision to prevent relapse and ensure you don’t succumb to the discomfort of withdrawal. This not only keeps you from restarting the cycle of addiction but reduces the risk of a potentially fatal overdose.

Detox Is Part of a Comprehensive Treatment Plan

Detox at home is not recommended because of the many risks of withdrawal. It’s best to detox in a treatment facility with medical supervision to prevent complications, administer medications as needed, and reduce the risk of relapse.

While detox is an important foundation for addiction recovery, it’s not enough on its own. It’s important to transition from detox into a comprehensive addiction treatment plan with behavioral therapies and counseling to address the underlying causes of addiction and build healthier habits for the future.

Amanda is a prolific medical content writer specializing in eating disorders and addiction treatment. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Purdue University with a B.S. in Social Work. Read more