Overcoming Physical Drug Dependency
Perhaps the hardest part of getting sober is ceasing the abuse of your drug of choice since drug withdrawals are routinely what keeps many stuck in the cycle of addiction. Knowing what to expect and how it can be addressed is the first step to getting treatment that will work.
Withdrawal symptoms for different drugs vary. Stimulants, benzodiazepines, opiates, alcohol, and others, all have unique withdrawal symptoms that must be addressed in different ways.
Stimulants:
One of the most commonly abused stimulants is methamphetamine. Another commonly used stimulant is the prescription amphetamine Adderall.
When stimulants are used for a prolonged period, they have some serious side effects which include:
- mood swings
- weight loss
- dizziness
- paranoia
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- sleep deprivation
- and in severe cases, psychosis
Coming off stimulants is not lethal; however, it can be very uncomfortable. Stimulant withdrawals are often accompanied by extreme cravings, as is the case with many drugs of abuse.
A person withdrawing from stimulants can expect to experience the following symptoms:
- irritability
- aches and pains
- increased appetite
- long periods of sleep
- depressed mood
- impaired social function
Individuals have reported feeling these symptoms for five days to three weeks. In addition, the majority of those studied who self-detoxed, relapsed shortly after. Those who relapsed cite boredom, depression, and peer pressure as the main contributing factors.
Benzodiazepines:
Benzodiazepines or benzos are one of the most common substances of abuse today. The most common versions of these are prescription medications Xanax and Klonopin.
Taking benzodiazepines long term can cause the following symptoms:
- memory loss
- impaired thinking
- headaches
- dry mouth
- slurred speech
- tremors
- nausea
- vomiting
- confusion and fatigue
A serious physical dependency is formed after long periods of abuse. Those taking benzodiazepines often do not realize they are one of the most dangerous drugs to withdraw from. Because of this reason, self-detox is strongly advised against.
Withdrawal effects of these drugs are:
- increased tension
- anxiety
- sweating
- dry retching
- nausea
- tremors
- seizures
In extreme cases, seizures can occur during withdrawals. These seizures can cause long-term cognitive damage and in severe cases can result in death. Therefore, it is vital someone coming off benzodiazepines gets medical help before the withdrawal process.
Opiates:
The most common opiates are heroin, fentanyl, or prescription opiates such as Opana or morphine. Drugs in this category account for the largest number of fatal overdoses in the United States.
Long term use of these drugs can cause the following effects:
- weight loss or gain
- decline in personal hygiene
- constricted pupils
- needle marks on arms or legs
- sunken eyes
- inability to stay awake
One of the reasons these drugs can be so fatal is they depress the respiratory system, causing an individual to quit breathing and eventually resulting in death. A lot of the pain caused by getting off heroin is the firing of nerves that had been sedated by the heroin for a long time. While opiate withdrawals are rarely fatal, attention should be paid to dehydration due to vomiting, diarrhea, and difficulty keeping down fluids. Hospitalization may be necessary in extreme cases.
The following are the most common withdrawal symptoms from opiates:
- vomiting
- cold sweats
- lack of appetite
- diarrhea
- muscle spasms
- headaches
- goosebumps
- trouble sleeping
People coming off heroin usually have a very hard time and intense cravings are a typical part of coming off these drugs. This makes detoxing at home nearly impossible as cravings make relapse almost certain. Long-term residential treatment is recommended for those addicted to heroin. For people with underlying medical issues or who have a particularly hard time with withdrawal, inpatient detox may be required.
Alcohol:
One of the most commonly abused substances is alcohol. It is also one of the most dangerous to cease when it has been consumed in large quantities for extended periods of time. Just like benzodiazepines, total cessation of alcohol use without proper medical care can cause a fatal seizure.
- slurred speech
- smelling of alcohol
- self-injury
- mood swings
- disorientation
- loss of memory
- vomiting and alcohol poisoning
Alcohol can be one of the hardest drugs to get off of and stay off of due to its accessibility. In addition, medication will be necessary to prevent seizures when withdrawing chronic alcohol use has developed into a physical dependency.
The following withdrawal symptoms are common when withdrawing from alcohol:
- shakes
- cold sweats
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- body pain
- trouble sleeping
- seizures
Long-term residential rehab is really the only recommended solution to alcohol addiction as it is so readily available. Getting a person sober long term especially when they are a chronic alcohol abuser is especially tricky. This makes it difficult for outpatient or short-term residential treatment to be effective. Discovering and addressing the underlying life issues or problems is essential as the recovering addict will encounter alcohol on a fairly regular basis in everyday life. The key is helping them with these life problems so they do not solve them through the abuse of alcohol.
Successfully getting off of a substance of abuse can be difficult. Finding a long-term drug treatment center that can assist in the full recovery process is critical to the overall success of rehabilitation. Withdrawal and detox is only the first step in successful recovery from drug addiction. When looking for a treatment facility be sure that all bases are covered and that the effectiveness of the program you choose is uniform throughout.
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