No, it is not safe to detox alone, especially if you use opioids or alcohol. If you are detoxing from opioids or alcohol, going to a place that specializes in detox is ideal. If not, even going to an emergency room is the next safest option.
Not everyone has access to a detox facility because of location and costs. And these are real factors that leave a lot of people alone and at risk for detoxing. Detoxing alone is something you might feel like you have to do because you don’t have other options. Reaching out to a support person who can help you prepare for detoxing is better than detoxing alone.
It was hell. It was painful. I got sick, physically sick. I went through so much pain that I felt I could never do this again. It would have been better if I could have taken meds.
Why detoxing alone is unsafe
It’s unsafe to detox alone because if you do have a medical emergency like a seizure, heart attack, etc., then you will not be able to call 911 yourself. It’s important to let someone know that you are detoxing. Even if you are just texting a friend to let them know that you are detoxing. You can also call and have someone be there with you and call 911 if there is an emergency.
Detoxing from opioids and alcohol alone is especially unsafe because of the risks. Withdrawing from opioids can physically be painful. And if you are alone, then it puts you at greater risk for relapse and overdose. Also, detoxing from extreme alcohol use can be dangerous and isn’t advisable by healthcare professionals. When detoxing from opioids, alcohol, or any substance, what support and resources we have available to us can determine our risks and success in our journey to become substance-free.
What you may experience
No matter what, detoxing is tough. Going through withdrawal is hard on the body and mind and can lead to medical or mental health issues. Detoxing is also worse if your addiction is serious. Depending on how much you were using, it can be a long, drawn-out, painful process. For many people the experience is draining and debilitating because they experience intense symptoms.
But no matter how bad detoxing feels, there is an end. It’s hard to believe when you are going through it, you can make it to the other side. And once detox is over, you will feel better.
Here are some examples of what people experience while detoxing from different substances:
- Stimulants: Detoxing from stimulants like cocaine or meth is psychologically hard, and can cause severe depression. This can be difficult for people who have a history of depression or other mental health conditions. You may also experience other symptoms including fatigue, body aches, cravings, slowed speech, chills, paranoia, insomnia, etc. For many people withdrawal symptoms last about seven days or range from 4-17 days. If symptoms last longer than 18 days, then you may be experiencing PAWS. [1]
- Opioids: Detoxing from opioids like heroin, oxy, or fentanyl is physically hard. Also, people who are detoxing from opioids are at high risk for relapse and overdose. This is because the withdrawal symptoms are so intense that people use to stop them. But they don’t realize that withdrawal has lowered their tolerance. It’s important to have strong support when detoxing from opioids to help prevent this. Withdrawal symptoms are not deadly, but they include anxiety, agitation, abdominal cramping, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, etc. [2]
- Alcohol: It’s crucial to have support when detoxing from alcohol because the withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening. Although the most severe symptoms usually end within four to five days, they can be intense. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms may include anxiety, confusion, insomnia, tremors, excessive sweating, hallucinations, seizures, delirium (a change in brain function), etc. The less severe symptoms sometimes continue weeks or months after detox. [3]
- Psychotropics: Detoxing from psychotropics or anti-psychotic medications is associated with experiencing a lot of bad side effects. Especially when stopping the meds without supervision of a healthcare professional. Many people report that it can take as long as a year for withdrawal symptoms to end. Withdrawal symptoms include headaches, anxiety, tremors, nausea, nervousness, extreme feelings, etc. Some people experience psychosis as well. [4] It is strongly recommended that people taper off these medications under medical supervision to reduce the withdrawal symptoms.
You don’t have to detox alone
I detoxed alone, but I don’t recommend it. I got moral support from my husband…he had to convince me that I had the flu so I would not freak out.
While you may want to, you don’t have to detox alone.
You won’t feel well while you detox. Calling someone and planning ahead for detoxing is a form of harm reduction. It helps to have a trusted person around to check in with you and assist with anything you need. If that’s not an option, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services (SAMHSA) hotline at 1-800-662-4357 or 211(a free information hotline) to get information about detox services available in your area. If you experience withdrawal symptoms like confusion, paranoia, tremors, or seizures, call 911 immediately.
The supervision and support of a healthcare provider can also help you create a plan to detox safely. There are many tools, treatments, and people who can help support you through the process of detoxing. For example, healthcare providers can recommend harm reduction strategies like medication-assisted recovery. In this form of treatment, medication is prescribed to help with withdrawal symptoms and is given alongside counseling or therapy. [5] This helps to reduce the risk of overdose when detoxing.
You don’t have to detox alone. And you’re not alone as you go through it. There are resources and people available to support you.
- Addiction Center. (2024, August 22). Stimulant Withdrawal And Detox. https://www.addictioncenter.com/stimulants/withdrawal-and-detox/
- National Library of Medicine. (2024, May 4). Opiate and opioid withdrawal. Medline Plus. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000949.htm
- Cleveland Clinic. (2024, January 25). Alcohol Withdrawal. Health Library. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/alcohol-withdrawal
- Read, John. (2022). The experiences of 585 people when they tried to withdraw from antipsychotic drugs. Addictive Behaviors Reports, Vol. 15 (June 2022). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853222000165
- Illinois Department of Public Health. (n.d.). Medication-Assisted Treatment FAQ. Treatment and Recovery. https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/opioids/treatment/mat-faq.html
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