Addiction Coping and Recovery Methods and Support The Risks of Quitting Cold Turkey By Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Elizabeth Hartney, BSc, MSc, MA, PhD is a psychologist, professor, and Director of the Centre for Health Leadership and Research at Royal Roads University, Canada. Learn about our editorial process Elizabeth Hartney, BSc., MSc., MA, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on October 02, 2019 Print Dominic Cox / EyeEm/Getty Images Quitting substance use suddenly and abruptly, or "cold turkey," carries very significant risks if the drug you are discontinuing is alcohol, a benzodiazepine or an opiate. It is also not advisable if you have been using any drug in large amounts and/or for a long time, because what you have been using may contain one of the high-risk drugs mentioned, or because you may suffer from extreme withdrawal symptoms. The Appeal of Quitting Cold Turkey For many addicts, quitting cold turkey is more appealing because it can be easier to avoid the drug entirely than to use moderately when your usual mode is to take the drug in an unrestrained manner. Many feel that they can more easily separate themselves from the world of drug use if they do so completely, avoiding all of the people, places and other reminders of the drug and starting afresh. Risks Quitting can be dangerous to do on your own because of the way the nervous system adapts to certain high dependency drugs. Abruptly taking these drugs out of your system can cause a variety of serious and potentially life-threatening medical conditions, including seizures and heart problems. Even drugs that have less pronounced physical dependence, such as cocaine, amphetamines, and nicotine, can produce severe and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that can make life uncomfortable and emotionally difficult. One danger of quitting cold turkey is that your body will quickly lose tolerance to alcohol or drugs, so if you relapse and then take your usual amount of the drug, you have a higher risk of overdose. How to Cope With Drug Withdrawal Medical Supervision for Drug Abstinence Is Safest This does not mean you can't become abstinent, but especially if you are quitting alcohol, a benzodiazepine or an opiate, you should quit under the management of a physician, who can give you medication to lessen the effects of withdrawal. Doctors affiliated with the American Board of Addiction Medicine have special training in addiction medicine and are particularly helpful in managing withdrawal safely. In many cases, a brief time in detox can be the safest option so that medical staff is on hand in case of a medical emergency. The staff can also help with providing nutrition, hydration, and medications intravenously if you are suffering from significant nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea during your withdrawal. However, many people are able to detox safely at home or in the community while meeting regularly with their doctor or health professional to ensure they remain well throughout the process. Your doctor may prescribe you different medications depending on the drug you are withdrawing from. How to Feel Better During Withdrawal When to Call 911 If you or someone you know is showing signs of a heart attack or seizure while quitting cold turkey, call 911 immediately. Symptoms of a heart attack may include: Shortness of breath Chest pain Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck or back Weakness, lightheadedness or faintness Pain or discomfort in the arms or shoulder Nausea Vomiting If you or someone you know is experiencing any concerning physical or neurological signs while quitting cold turkey, call 911 immediately. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment. 4 Physical Detoxification Services for Withdrawal From Specific Substances. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2006. Ornato JP, Hand MM. Warning signs of a heart attack. Circulation. 2014;129:e393-e395. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.006126 Speak to a Therapist for Addiction Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.