Withdrawal and detox go hand in hand and they’re both necessary parts of addiction treatment. Unfortunately, many people don’t understand withdrawal or why they have symptoms when they stop using drugs. Below are some drug withdrawal facts that everyone needs to know.
Why Do People Experience Withdrawal?
People experience withdrawal from drugs when they develop a dependence on the drugs. When they deny their bodies the drugs, they go into a type of shock. Combined with a chemical imbalance in the brain, withdrawal symptoms develop.
Keep in mind that drug withdrawal symptoms aren’t always physical. People can experience mental effects as well. It’s also important to know that the symptoms aren’t permanent. Once the chemical balance returns to normal, the symptoms reduce in severity.
Drug Withdrawal Facts
The more that people understand about drug withdrawal, the easier that it is for them to cope with it. Everyone needs to know these important facts about drug withdrawal.
Detox Is the First Step in Drug Recovery
People must complete many steps to beat addiction, and detox is the first. During treatment, they experience withdrawal as their bodies attempt to become chemical-free. Proper detox provides a strong foundation on which they can build the rest of their treatment.
People Can Experience Withdrawal Within Hours
Many people mistakenly believe that it takes days before they’ll have withdrawal symptoms. In truth, drug withdrawal can start within hours of their last dose of drugs. The process starts as soon as the body starts to filter out the chemicals that the drugs leave behind.
Withdrawal Symptoms Vary Greatly
Some people say that withdrawal symptoms are the worst thing that anyone can experience. Others say that they’re uncomfortable but not that bad. Why do these opinions vary so greatly? The short answer is that no one experiences withdrawal the same.
The symptoms vary from mild to severe. For example, some mild flu-like symptoms include headaches, upset stomach, and anxiety. Severe withdrawal symptoms include:
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Depression
- Irregular heartbeat
- Death
Some of the Most Common Drugs Cause the Most Severe Symptoms
People often think that withdrawal is the most extreme for drugs such as heroin. While heroin withdrawal is painful, the symptoms typically aren’t deadly. The symptoms that people experience during alcohol withdrawal are often much worse.
Some people don’t know that alcohol is very addictive and deadly. After all, they can buy the drug in nearly any store. However, alcohol withdrawal symptoms are some of the most severe. No matter the symptoms that they experience, it’s always best to seek professional help.
Many Factors Affect the Severity of Withdrawal
It’s not just the drugs that people take that determine the intensity of their experience. The length of time that they take drugs affects the intensity too. Also, how they take the drugs impacts the severity of the process.
For example, people who take drugs orally typically don’t experience as severe symptoms as those who inject drugs. Snorting drugs also causes harsher withdrawal than oral use.
Denver Recovery Wants to Help You Beat Addiction
At Denver Recovery, we want to provide the tools that you need to beat addiction for good. While it’s true that the possibility of relapse is always there, we can teach you how to avoid it. Our relapse prevention treatment includes creating custom plans for each of our clients. Some of the programs that we offer include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Individual counseling
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Intensive outpatient program
- Case management
Fight back against your addiction with the help of Denver Recovery. Let our friendly staff members teach you how to overcome drug withdrawal and addiction for good. Reach out to us today for help at (844) 602-3175.
