Why It’s So Hard To Quit Drugs Cold Turkey?

Published on: 13 April 2021 Last Updated on: 26 December 2025

The endurings of life in modern society have made it common for people to develop addictions to drugs and alcohol. It all starts with one drink, one puff, or one sniff to get over a bad mood or event. Before you know it, several months down the line, you’ve lost everything.

Fortunately, some people get to a point where they feel they’ve simply had enough of drug or alcohol abuse. Now, they are ready to make the changes to get over the addiction.

However, some people choose to cold turkey. But, there are several side effects of going cold turkey on drugs.

In this article, we look into the cold turkey approach of quitting, what it means, why it’s so hard, and the risks it poses to the addict. If you want to find a rehab center to help you quit using drugs, you can learn more here.

Quit Cold Turkey To Get Over Addiction

Some people choose to go cold turkey. They feel that it’s easier to stop using their substance of choice rather than to get off it gradually. While ambition and dedication to recovery are powerful on their own, they are simply not enough to overcome withdrawal symptoms.

Quitting substance abuse cold turkey is very difficult and can impose significant risks. It becomes extremely difficult when your body develops a certain level of dependence on the drug; it’s difficult to quit.

What Does It Mean To Quit Cold Turkey?

The term ‘cold turkey’ comes from one of the withdrawal symptoms of quitting substance use. Sometimes, a person may get goosebumps that look like the skin of a plucked turkey after they cut themselves off their drug of choice.

As such, quitting drugs ‘cold turkey’ means putting an abrupt stop to drugs and alcohol use.

Most approaches are done at home without medical assistance or intervention.

People who use this technique do so in the belief that it will be easier to stop using the substance immediately. Some believe that if they disassociate themselves from the drug entirely, they will feel less compelled to start using it again.

For others, detoxing at home is the most convenient method because they don’t have medical insurance and are unable to afford treatment services.

As painful and uncomfortable the experience might be, they believe they can do it on their own without the need for specialized drug addiction treatment. Another reason for going cold turkey is that the addict prefers to do it in a familiar environment where they can feel safer and supported by friends and family.

However, quitting cold turkey should not be mistaken for detoxification. Detox is a slow process of clearing drugs from the body in a safe and controlled setting.

Detoxing allows the body enough time to purge physical cravings and the freedom to go through several uncomfortable feelings and changes brought about by the body breaking free of the drug.

Why Quitting Cold Turkey Is So Hard?

If you’re trying to quit drugs, cold turkey may seem like a fast and easy option at first. You get to go through the process privately at home without subjecting yourself to judgment or scrutiny from people.

However, the technique is very difficult to do. Factors that make it hard include:

Withdrawal symptoms.
Intense cravings.
The drug of choice.
The level of addiction.
Co-occurring mental health conditions.

The Addicted Phase

If you’re addicted to alcohol or a particular drug, your body has likely developed an undesirable mental and physical dependency on the substance. At this point, both your brain and body need those chemicals to sustain a level of equilibrium.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Once you go cold turkey, your body begins to try and go back to its non-addicted state by purging itself of the drug or alcohol substances. This purging process produces intense withdrawal symptoms and physical cravings that can affect you emotionally, physically, and psychologically.

Examples of highly common physical and mental withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, nausea, depression, seizures, hallucinations, vomiting, mood imbalances, agitation, mental fog, insomnia, irregular heart rate, and changes in blood pressure.

Drug of Choice

The type of drug involved also makes it hard for the addict to recover from their addiction through the technique. The drug your body is dependent on will determine the withdrawal symptoms you experience and the degree of severity.

Level of Addiction

Drugs such as heroin and benzos are highly addictive, and experts recommend that addicts of these drugs refrain from using the approach since they can lead to highly dangerous withdrawal symptoms.

Co-occurring Mental Health Condition

The co-occurring mental health condition of the addict can also complicate drug withdrawal and can lead to a highly unpredictable behavioral response from the addict.

The severity of the addiction also makes it difficult for addicts to achieve success from the method. The degree of dependence on a drug, as well as the amount of time you use the drug, will determine how your body and brain will respond to being cut off.

Simply put, the more severe the addiction, the more intense the withdrawal symptoms will be.

Is It Safe To Quit Cold Turkey?

Quitting cold turkey may not be the safest or most effective approach to staying sober, especially for people who have developed a dependency on a particular substance. Quitting too soon can cause uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and a strong urge to resume substance abuse.

In certain cases, the withdrawal symptoms can be so severe that they cause life-threatening medical conditions such as seizures and heart problems, as explained earlier in this article. Even substances that pose a low risk of addiction, such as nicotine, can cause highly unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

This is not to say that quitting cold turkey cannot be successful. The technique can be highly effective with the right support system and the rate at which the addict can overcome the withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal symptoms last for varying lengths, and some people can get past the withdrawal period faster than those who decide to quit gradually. But if a person is addicted to potentially harmful drugs such as meth or heroin, cold turkey may not be the best idea.

Risks You May Face If You Go Cold Turkey

There are addiction-specific risks you should be aware of if you are going cold turkey. The common ones would include –

Smoking

Smoking cold turkey doesn’t have any direct and significant withdrawal symptoms. When someone abruptly decides to quit smoking cold turkey, they won’t face any life-threatening symptoms.

However, people quitting smoking cold turkey have a lower success rate than people quitting with external support. But, the nicotine withdrawal symptoms you get from quitting smoking cold turkey are difficult to cope with.

Alcohol & Cold Turkey

Alcohol cold turkey can be really difficult. It leads the person who’s quitting alcohol to serious health risks under certain conditions. Sometimes, the effects can be life-threatening. The most serious form of alcohol cold turkey is delirium tremens.

This is something that leads the person who’s quitting alcohol into rapid onsets of extreme levels of confusion. It also meddles with how their brain regulates blood circulation and breathing.

It is common for people to do cold turkey on alcohol to get DTs within 48 hours of quitting the drink. Also, this can last for 5 days straight. They can experience severe levels of confusion and extreme levels of hyperactivity. Loss of consciousness, hallucination, fever, issues with sleeping, etc.

Drugs & Cold Turkey

Similar to quitting severe alcohol addictions, drug cold turkey can also have severe onsets of drug addiction withdrawal symptoms. It’s common for someone with a drug addiction to use more than one substance. Typically, these people use opioids, heroin, cocaine, and other stimulants.

But, if someone stops taking drugs abruptly, it’ll seem extremely serious life-threatening medical condition. These conditions include seizures, heart disease, dehydration, etc.

Drug Addiction Treatment:

Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction is not an easy thing to do. But this doesn’t deter people from going cold turkey without any external help or medical intervention.

While it may seem like a fast and easy solution, a medically managed drug addiction treatment approach is highly recommended, drug addiction treatment centers is equipped with professionally trained staff who are committed to helping addicts recover and live a life of sobriety.

If you or someone you care about needs help with their addiction, get in touch with a professional drug addiction treatment facility to help you achieve a successful recovery altogether.

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Soumava Goswami

A passionate writer and an avid reader, Soumava is academically inclined and loves writing on topics requiring deep research. Having 3+ years of experience, Soumava also loves writing blogs in other domains, including digital marketing, business, technology, travel, and sports.

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How To Take Care Of Your Mental Health

If you're dealing with some sort of mental health issue, you'll need to take the necessary steps to make sure you're not experiencing any serious issues. It's also important to remember to maintain, expand, and deepen your relationships with your close friends and loved ones. You should always talk about your feelings and seek help when you’re having a hard time. Also, you should be careful not to drink or take other drugs if you’re feeling stressed out. For example, if you want to take help from a Top Rated Doctor in Dubai. First, you have to understand what might be the reason for stressing out. Avoid alcohol and other drugs In addition to affecting your physical health, drugs, and alcohol can also have negative impacts on your mental health, according to GS Movement. This is because they affect the central nervous system. They slow down your brain and impair memory formation. 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If you are worried about someone who is using drugs, you can call a 24-hour referral line such as DirectLine. It is anonymous and free. You can also seek out peer support. Peer support groups are facilitated by other people who have experienced using drugs. Many of these groups are 12-step groups. The best way to prevent relapse is to have a plan. Be sure to keep your appointments, avoid things that make you want to drink, and be sure to stay sober during treatment. Talk about your feelings Talking about your feelings is a great way to boost your mental health. Not only can it improve your quality of life, but it can also reduce stress. Keeping your feelings bottled up can lead to high blood pressure, headaches, and even sleep disorders. The most obvious reason to talk about your feelings is that it helps you get through a tough time. You may be feeling down in the dumps, or you may just be having a bad day in general. No matter what the situation, you'll feel better once you discuss it. To figure out what your emotions are telling you, you can try writing down your feelings. This could be in the form of a letter, an email, or an online chat. If you don't want to write, you can always pick up the phone. As you are figuring out what your feelings are, it may help to do a bit of research. There are several books on the subject, including Expressing Your Feelings by Roger T. Crenshaw. Other books to check out include How to Understand Deep Feelings Toward Others by Dr. James W. Pennebaker. For the best results, it's important to talk about your feelings with a trustworthy and supportive person. Try not to blame others. Instead, be honest with yourself and your listener. If you're not quite ready to make the plunge, you may want to take a moment to write down your best feelings. Writing them down can also give you the chance to reflect on your experiences. It's not necessarily easy to talk about your feelings, but it can be a worthwhile endeavor. Using a buddy, a support group or even a family member can make the process go a lot smoother. Exercise with someone else Exercise is not only good for your physical health, but it can also be a good way to improve your mental health. In fact, studies have shown that regular exercise can reduce depression symptoms, anxiety, and low self-esteem. People of all ages and racial groups report lower rates of mental health problems when they exercise. In addition, a study found that people who exercised at least twice a week were more likely to experience less stress and fewer mental health problems than those who did not exercise. While some people might find it hard to get motivated, exercise is essential for mental health. It can help to boost your mood, reduce anxiety, and provide a sense of accomplishment. Researchers have begun to explore the effects of different types of exercise on mental health. Some of the most common include yoga, tai chi, and a variety of aerobic and strength exercises. Physical activity increases the amount of serotonin that is produced in the brain, which is responsible for regulating mood balance. Additionally, exercising can increase the production of the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which helps to support memory and thinking. The most beneficial type of exercise is aerobic exercise. This includes running, walking, cycling, swimming, and other endurance and aerobic exercises. Compared to gym-based exercise, aerobic exercises are more effective in reducing mental health burdens. Other forms of exercise can help to alleviate depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that yoga and tai chi have the strongest correlations with reduced mental health burdens. While it may be difficult to motivate yourself to exercise, if you are struggling with a mental health issue, talk to your doctor or a counselor to see if exercise can work for you. Seek help when you're struggling If you are having a hard time keeping your head above water, you may want to consider taking care of your mental health. Taking care of your mental health can help you improve your work performance and strengthen your relationships. It can also increase your awareness of the mental health issues that are affecting you. One way to take care of your mental health is to ask for help. You might feel embarrassed or even ashamed about asking for help. However, you are more likely to receive it if you do. There are many websites and apps that can give you advice about how to take care of your mental health. For example, Text START is a free service that connects people with mental illness to trained counselors. Another option is to join a support group. This can help you feel more connected to others in a similar situation. Many support groups are staffed by volunteers who will listen to your problems and offer suggestions for improvement. Depending on the nature of your problem, you might be able to get help from your primary care physician. In addition, your local medical center may have a team of professionals dedicated to caring for patients with mental health needs. To improve your chances of getting the best help possible, you should consult a mental health expert. A professional can offer accurate information about the best solutions and coping strategies for your specific condition. They can guide you through the process and ensure you are safe. Getting the right advice is the most important part of the mental health journey. Whether you are seeking help from a health professional or a friend, you need to be receptive to what is being said. Additional: 5 Protein Enriched Food To Improve Mental Health 5 Mental Health Benefits of Massage Therapy That You Must Know When Will Social Media Addiction Be Considered a Mental Health Condition? Why Environmental Air and Noise Monitoring Is Really Worth Family's Health

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Choosing a premium product in 2026 can be rather overwhelming, with so many new gadgets and upgrades launched almost simultaneously! However, if your main focus is a device that can do everything, the Ace Ultra Ultimate 2026 would be on your shortlist, without a doubt! Without a doubt, it stands as one of the most sophisticated and trustworthy alternatives you can get these days! Whether you are finally upgrading the equipment that has long served you or acquiring your first one, this tutorial is designed to assist you. We've pretty much simplified everything for you. Here, we will explore the features, technical specifications, and cost. Also, we shall reveal what the connoisseurs are talking about. So, without further ado, let us find out what makes ACE Ultra Premium 2026 so popular! What Is Ace Ultra Premium? ACE Ultra Premium is the newest and most advanced model in the ACE series. 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Or maybe you are looking for those unique new flavours. You might have Googled “where to buy” or hunted for a positive review to see if it is worth it! Unfortunately, the entire Ace Ultra Premium market operates without any kind of real rules. This means there are simply no safe versions out there, no matter how fancy the box looks. Here is what you should keep in mind: Price does not always mean safety. Even if you pay more, it’s still unregulated. Secondly, do not trust every review. Real lab tests do not back most "official" claims. Lastly, your health is #1. It is just not worth risking your lungs for a cheap vape. We know it is quite upsetting to find out your ace ultra premium might be fake or unsafe. However, your well-being is worth so much more than any disposable.

Why Engraved Gifts Are the Perfect Gifts to Show That You Care

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Why It’s So Hard To Quit Drugs Cold Turkey?

Quit Cold Turkey To Get Over Addiction

What Does It Mean To Quit Cold Turkey?