Dangers Of At-Home Detox

People with drug or alcohol addictions may decide to stop using substances and attempt to quit “cold turkey.” When a person is physically addicted to drugs or alcohol, they will experience withdrawal symptoms when they suddenly stop using these substances. While some people may attempt to undergo the withdrawal process at home, medical detox is strongly recommended for anyone with a substance use disorder (SUD).

Withdrawing from some substances, like alcohol and benzodiazepines, may be life-threatening without medical intervention. The process is also hard on the body and mind in general; without medical support, it’s possible to suffer severe health consequences. This article looks into at-home detox dangers and how they can be avoided by entering a medical detox program.

Detox Vs. Withdrawal

When a person regularly drinks alcohol and/or uses drugs, the substances interfere with the way messages transmit in the brain. The mind and body adapt to functioning with the substance present, and eventually begin to require higher quantities to experience the same desired effect, otherwise known as tolerance. Generally, the longer someone uses substances, the higher their tolerance becomes.

When someone with an addiction stops using drugs and/or alcohol, they will experience withdrawal symptoms because the mind and body are no longer used to functioning without these substances. These physical, mental, and emotional symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Physical withdrawal continues until the substances leave the body, but mental withdrawal persists for longer.

In the medical community, detoxification, or “detox,” is a term used to describe programs and services that help people with addiction make it through withdrawal safely and successfully. Typically required prior to beginning treatment for SUD, detox can be a relatively quick or longer process depending on the type of substance(s) used, the amount used, the length of time someone has used substances, and other factors.

Withdrawal Symptoms

When the body enters withdrawal, it’s because the body is attempting to re-regulate without the substance present. The physical and mental effects felt during this time can be quite uncomfortable.

Withdrawal symptoms include:

• anxiety
• changes to appetite, e.g., increased or repressed hunger
• cold sweats
• depression
• diarrhea
• elevated blood pressure
• heart palpitations
• increased heart rate
• insomnia
• muscle cramps, spasms, and twitches
• nausea
• poor concentration
• restlessness
• stomach cramps
• sweating
• tremors
• vomiting

Why Shouldn’t I Detox At Home?

At first thought, detoxing at home may seem easier, faster, and more affordable. And by detoxing at home, it may seem possible to hide your addiction from loved ones.

You may try to justify these reasons to yourself, but none of them are true. First and most importantly, there are serious risks involved when detoxing without medical supervision and support, which we will explore below. Secondly, state-funded detox centers are available in most states, providing treatment for people who are uninsured, underinsured, or otherwise can’t afford treatment. Thirdly, detoxing at home will likely lengthen the process because you won’t have access to resources to help you safely stop using substances. Finally, detoxing at home is not a pretty undertaking, as it often involves painful physical symptoms and mental anguish. If your loved ones aren’t aware of your addiction, then you will appear severely ill either way.

There are at-home kits that claim to help people detox in just a few days. While the marketing is alluring, it’s nothing more than a sales tactic. These kits cannot offer the expertise of healthcare providers who work in the field of addiction medicine or mental health, and cannot provide supervision to ensure a safe detox.

At-Home Detox Dangers

Detoxing at home is never advised. There are far too many risks involved in at-home detox, some of which are life-threatening. Some of the most serious risks are described below.

Severe Withdrawal Symptoms And Complications

Depending on the type of substance(s) used, withdrawal can be life-threatening, including for addictions involving alcohol or benzodiazepines. With alcohol, for example, delirium tremens (DTs) can leave the body unable to regulate its temperature, blood circulation, and breathing. Left untreated, DTs can complicate existing health issues and lead to heart attack, stroke, and death. According to the Journal of Investigative Medicine: High Impact Case Reports, 2% to 5% of people hospitalized for alcohol addiction will develop DTs.

Rapidly stopping benzodiazepines can cause seizures. The seizures might not be preceded by other symptoms, so the person doesn’t know to expect them. When someone stops using benzodiazepines, rhabdomyolysis can also occur. Rhabdomyolysis is when skeletal muscles are damaged and the damaged tissue releases proteins and electrolytes into the body; the condition can be life-threatening.

Fatal outcomes aren’t restricted to only these two substances. Anyone can suffer from unpredictable or unexpected complications of withdrawal, which is why medical detox is always recommended.

Exacerbated Health Issues

Even if someone is not withdrawing from alcohol or benzodiazepines, problems can still arise. Withdrawing puts extra strain on the body, which can exacerbate underlying health conditions. When someone is in active addiction, it’s common to forgo doctor visits, sometimes for years, unless there is a serious concern or injury—and even then, it’s not rare to refrain from receiving emergency care. Someone may be unaware of the extent of their health problems until the issues considerably worsen. Severe complications can include seizures and heart attacks.

Distressing Mental Health Symptoms

Withdrawal can also cause rapid changes in the brain that manifest as concerning mental health symptoms. For example, people withdrawing from drugs and/or alcohol can experience delusions, hallucinations, and psychosis. When someone has a psychotic episode during withdrawal, there is the chance to bring on another psychotic episode if the substance is used in the future. Similarly, people in psychosis may be unaware of the extent of their actions, unable to decipher reality from imagination, and can pose a danger to themselves or others, reports the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Likelihood Of Relapse

One of the hardest parts of withdrawing at home is the notion that having a drink or using a drug would immediately stop the uncomfortable symptoms. Withdrawal from opioids, for example, is not life-threatening but is still incredibly unpleasant. The experience is often likened to an extreme case of the flu. Staying in the moment and waiting for the substances to leave the body is a waiting game that requires patience. The temptation to use drugs or alcohol to “feel better” can be too strong and compel people in withdrawal to give in; something that only keeps them trapped in the cycle of addiction.

Treatment provides a secure environment where people are medically monitored during withdrawal. They are not permitted to leave, which prevents them from obtaining drugs or alcohol during difficult moments. Medical intervention also helps them remain as comfortable as possible by mitigating withdrawal symptoms. When withdrawing at home, people are left to their own devices, which may or may not include support from loved ones. It can be stressful for all the people involved, who are often doing their best but don’t necessarily know how to manage the situation.

No Access To Recovery Resources Or Aftercare

After achieving stabilization, clients in detox programs are ready to begin addiction treatment. Detox alone is not a form of recovery and cannot be regarded as such. Treatment is required to gain the tools that are critical for maintaining sobriety in the long term. Healthcare professionals are aware of this and know that time is of the essence after detox is complete. This is why many rehab centers today provide detox services, allowing clients to smoothly transition into treatment once stabilized. Or, staff can help connect clients with a rehab center that accepts their insurance and otherwise meets their needs.

In a home environment, none of these resources are present, creating a major at-home detox danger. All decisions regarding treatment are in the hands of the person with the SUD, whose thoughts, behaviors, and decisions may be clouded due to the way in which SUD affects the brain. Someone at this stage needs guidance from others who can offer sound advice. Not only is it nearly impossible to think clearly and logically during uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, but the mind and body are exhausted. It’s the right time to lean on others for help and trust in the process of recovery. Recovery, in most cases, requires the involvement of other people and sometimes a care team. Having these resources and support available significantly increases the chances of recovery.

This is a particularly vulnerable period for people facing addiction, as a return to drug or alcohol use at similar levels prior to detox can cause an overdose, due to the body’s now-decreased tolerance.

What Happens During Medical Detox?

During medical detox, people with SUDs undergo withdrawal in a safe, secure facility supported by healthcare professionals. Some detox centers are standalone units, and others are operated within a larger addiction treatment center. Medical detox is a form of harm reduction, which means that efforts are made to reduce the likelihood of adverse outcomes, such as relapse and medical complications. People in medical detox programs are given access to a full care team, including doctors, nurses, and therapists.

The general process in medical detox includes a thorough assessment to determine an individualized treatment and aftercare plan and whether medication is needed to mitigate withdrawal symptoms. Substances that may require medications include alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, stimulants, and synthetic drugs such as bath salts or kratom.

Medical detox can be likened to going to an emergency department for breaking a bone. Immediate care is done to stabilize the situation, but longer-term care is necessary for full recovery. In this same sense, medical detox helps someone regain stability from addiction but is not a one-stop solution for recovery. For this reason, the goal is always to subsequently transition people to inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment.

Medical Detox And Comprehensive Addiction Treatment At Bedrock

If you are dealing with a drug or alcohol addiction, you don’t have to handle it alone. Help is available whenever you’re ready. Call Bedrock Recovery Center today for details about our comprehensive recovery services, including medical detox, and for fast, free health insurance verification.