If you suffer from a Heroin addiction, you may be wondering whether quitting cold turkey is the best option.
In this guide, we’ll be explaining why quitting Heroin cold turkey isn’t the most effective recovery technique and the health risks it involves.
What Is Quitting ‘Cold Turkey’?
Going cold turkey is a method of quitting addictive substances such as alcohol or drugs by immediately stopping consumption, as opposed to gradually coming off it.
People often believe that going cold turkey makes quitting easier as they think that removing the substance from their lives in one swift action will stop the temptation to use it, however, this is not how addiction works.
Is Going Cold Turkey Effective?
For a small number of individuals with milder addictions, going cold turkey with the right kind of help has helped them successfully quit certain substances.
However, the effectiveness of going cold turkey is largely dependent on the substance that the individual is trying to quit.
For example, whilst it may be easier for someone to quit smoking (nicotine) cold turkey, it can be more difficult to quit drugs such as heroin. Find out more about our heroin rehab centre.
This is because heroin withdrawal symptoms are typically far more severe, making it much more difficult to resist the temptation to take heroin again in order to relieve the symptoms. This is called a relapse.
Additionally, going cold turkey doesn’t address the underlying issues behind the addiction in the way that proper recovery treatment does. So although the individual may be able to stop taking the drug initially, they may become triggered later down the line and relapse.
Is Going Cold Turkey from Heroin Safe?
Going cold turkey with a Heroin addiction isn’t recommended as it can be dangerous to suddenly stop taking heroin and other drugs as the brain becomes accustomed to it and cutting off the supply too quickly can result in seizures, irregular heart rhythms and other serious and life threatening symptoms.
What is the Best Way to Detox from Heroin?
Generally, Heroin detox involves a Heroin substitute, such as methadone or buprenorphine. Individuals can either use this to gradually withdraw from the drug, or they can use it as a long-term substitute on a stable dose.
How Long Does Heroin Detox Take?
Detoxing from heroin can take anywhere up to 12 weeks. This time allows the individual to gradually withdraw from the drug in a safe and monitored environment before starting treatment.
What are the Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms?
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Low mood or mood swings
- Nausea
- Sleep deprivation
- Sweating
- Aches and pains
- Shaking
- Retching
- Seizures
- Delirium Tremens (rare)
What is the Best Treatment for Heroin Addiction?
The NHS recommends seeking professional help from a drug treatment centre when quitting a substance you are addicted to.
At Acquiesce, following a detoxification placement, our team of experienced professionals deliver a combination programme of evidence-based therapies to address the underlying physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects behind the individual’s addiction.
We utilise holistic therapies at our rehab facility, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, 12 Step approaches, social activities and regular fitness sessions and exercise.
Individuals can learn to understand the root cause behind their addiction and gain the knowledge and tools for an ongoing sustainable solution and recovery with our urban recovery model.
Our urban recovery model helps the individual to integrate into the community during their recovery, enabling a manageable return to everyday life in a safe and manageable way at the end of treatment.
We do this because many individuals have found that the favourable conditions of rehabs such as manor houses in the countryside help with the initial detox but fail to prepare them for the reality of everyday life once they leave the rehab facility, leading to relapse.
We aim to make the transition as smooth as possible, mitigating the risk of a relapse and increasing chances of a drug-free life moving forward.
Heroin Recovery at Acquiesce
Get in touch with our team at Acquiesce for a free, confidential consultation with a Recovery Practitioner in order to establish your individual needs and suitability for safe treatment with the service.
This can be done via a phone call or by booking an appointment at our centre.
Once the correct treatment pathway has been established, all arrangements for a smooth and hassle-free admission, including transportation, are made.
