Detoxing at Home: Ready to Handle an Emergency?

Quitting drugs or alcohol is a life-changing, courageous step, but detoxing at home is not always the safest or most innovative way to begin recovery. At-home drug detox can be hazardous, particularly for people dependent on substances like alcohol, benzodiazepines (benzos), opioids, methamphetamine (meth), and cocaine.

Ascendant New York does not recommend or encourage detoxing at home without medical supervision. 

However, we recognize that some people may choose to detox at home due to cost, privacy, convenience, or other reasons. If this is your decision, you must understand the risks involved and take every precaution possible to safeguard your health.

Why At-Home Drug Detox Can Be Dangerous

At first glance, detoxing at home may seem like an appealing option. You’re in a comfortable environment surrounded by loved ones. But withdrawal is not just uncomfortable. It can be unpredictable, painful, and even life-threatening, depending on the substance involved.

High-risk substances include:[1]

• Alcohol: Withdrawal from alcohol can cause seizures, hallucinations, or delirium tremens (DTs).
• Benzodiazepines: Suddenly stopping benzos can result in seizures, extreme anxiety, or psychosis.
• Opioids: Withdrawal is usually not fatal with opioids, but it can be painful and may have complications due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
• Stimulants: Meth, cocaine, and other stimulants can have severe symptoms like paranoia, hallucinations, mood swings, or suicidal ideation that can be dangerous without supervision.

Friends and family can provide support, but they’re not equipped to handle emergencies that may occur during detox. Without supervision, you could be at risk of seizures, dehydration, suicidal thoughts or psychosis, relapse, and overdose.

Is It Ever Safe to Detox at Home?

At-home detox may be appropriate for people with mild substance use and:

• No history of severe withdrawal symptoms
• Detox from drugs other than alcohol, benzos, or opioids
• A solid support system and access to emergency services
• Remote guidance of an addiction specialist or medical professional

Some addiction treatment facilities offer at-home detox programs with a medical team to visit your home, provide medications, medical monitoring, and emotional support. However, these programs may not be suitable for everyone, so it is essential to consult a medical professional.

How to Detox at Home (If You Must)

If you choose to proceed with an at-home drug detox, it’s essential to prepare.

1. Remove Drugs from Your Home

You can start using drugs again if they are within reach. Throwing it away will make it harder for you to get it. It will take longer to find them, giving you a chance to rethink your decision to continue using drugs. Keeping drugs out of reach will help you stay clean. It will also remove a trigger that may cause a relapse.

2. Free up Time for the Detox

Some addicts maintain busy schedules. It is difficult for them to spare their time for recovery from addiction. However, taking time off from your activities is ideal for a successful recovery. You will return to these tasks after a few days or a week, once you have completed the problematic parts of detoxification. Taking a break is appropriate because you may experience withdrawal symptoms that affect your productivity and interactions with others.

3. Get Support from Family and Friends

Recovering from addiction has difficulties. You will cope with these challenges better with support from people close to you than without it. They receive help if you experience severe symptoms and are unable to perform small chores or struggle to do so.

4. Eat a Balanced Diet

Drugs change how your body works. They may alter how your body organs function, putting you at risk of developing illnesses. You may have struggled to consume all the nutrients your body needs while depending on drugs. Consuming a balanced meal helps your body return to its normal functioning. This change gives you the strength to cope with the detoxification process.

5. Stay Away from Triggers

Relapse is a severe problem for recovering addicts. Triggers such as peer pressure, stress, and depression can make you fall back on drugs. Identify these urges and deal with them. For example, you can avoid friends who encourage you to use drugs. You may also engage in activities like exercises to take your mind off things that trouble you.

6. Keep Your Emergency Contacts Close to You

Recovering from addiction at home can have some complications. You should be ready if such a thing happens. Making your emergency contacts accessible helps you cope with these difficulties. You should have emergency numbers, such as 911 and your doctor’s contact information.

7. Join a Support Group for People in Recovery

People with similar challenges can help your recovery. Sharing experiences gives you insights for coping with difficulties and inspires you to complete your detoxification process.

Additional Considerations for At-Home Detox

• First aid and medical supplies: Keep essential medical supplies readily available, such as a thermometer, blood pressure monitor, electrolyte supplements, and any medications prescribed by your doctor. Being prepared can help you address minor issues before they become emergencies.
• Chronic health conditions: If you have health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or respiratory issues, detoxing at home may complicate these conditions. Always talk to your doctor before attempting detox, even if you’re not expecting a severe withdrawal experience.
• Mental health monitoring: Withdrawal can have an impact on your mental health. Depression, anxiety, hallucinations, and suicidal thoughts can occur, particularly with stimulants, benzos, and alcohol. Have a plan in place to seek immediate care if your symptoms escalate.

Natural At-Home Detox Programs

You can detox at home without medications. Natural detox involves stopping the use of drugs without taking medicines to help you detox. While it is difficult, you must research before trying this method of recovery from a substance use disorder.

People who detox at home naturally can try these techniques.

i. Detoxing Cold Turkey (Hint: It Involves Stopping the Usage of Drugs Abruptly)

Cold Turkey makes you susceptible to withdrawal symptoms, especially when quitting the use of opiates, alcohol, or benzodiazepines. This alternative is not advisable for people with severe addiction. Some addicts prefer to recover using this method because it involves stopping the use of drugs at once. They find it hard to use the drug with many restrictions.

ii. Detoxing Using the Tapering Method

This option is safer since it lets you slowly stop your drug usage. It helps you avoid the withdrawal effects people experience when they quit using drugs at once. This scenario involves gradually reducing the dose of substances you take. Your body adjusts better as you deprive it of the narcotics it has become dependent on.

You can taper in the following three ways:

• Direct tapering involves reducing the drug your body depends on regularly. Many people decrease the dose of substances they take weekly.
• Titration tapering comprises dissolving calculated amounts of the substance in water to reduce the dosage used. You reduce the proportion of the mixture you take slowly to avoid severe withdrawal effects. Consult an expert to determine the correct amount of the drug to mix with water. This method is ineffective with substances that are not soluble in water.
• Substitution tapering entails people with mild addictions replacing the drug they abuse with a similar but more comfortable-to-taper substance. For example, you can swap heroin with buprenorphine. This substitute curbs intense cravings while providing less intoxication than the original drug.

Can Detox at Home Be Fatal?

Yes. Some drugs have withdrawal syndromes so severe they can cause seizures and other dangerous effects that, if not treated correctly, can result in death or permanent impairment. Some people have detoxed at home without complications. However, their success has no bearing on your fate. Your case can be different. You may experience severe withdrawal symptoms that cause permanent physical or mental disorders. Your preparation is likely not to have accounted for intense withdrawal symptoms.

Having experts on hand to assist you is crucial. Your family and friends will likely do everything they can to keep you comfortable and safe, but they are not trained in the intricacies of detoxification and withdrawal. Additionally, if a medical emergency arises, your friends and family may be unable to provide the same level of assistance as a professional can. Or, if there is a medical emergency and you are by yourself, you may end up in danger or harm because no one is around to help you.

Detoxing at home can also be dangerous for people who have other medical conditions. Issues such as anxiety or pre-existing heart conditions can intensify withdrawal symptoms. In addition, your health, age, and the number of withdrawal episodes you have had can influence the severity of your withdrawal symptoms.

It is best to rely on people who have dedicated years of their life to helping addicts get clean and who understand that the processes of detox and withdrawal are not easy. You are in good hands if you go to the proper care facility!

Detox safely with the help of experts from Ascendant New York Drug and Alcohol Detox to avoid your detoxification being detrimental to your health.

The Severity of Withdrawal Symptoms

Each detoxification is different. People experience withdrawal symptoms to varying extents depending on various factors. For example, a BMC Psychiatry study shows that people react differently to quitting using benzodiazepines.[2] In addition, the psychological effects of withdrawal from benzodiazepines and alcohol may persist after physical symptoms disappear.

The severity of the effects depends on the dose of substances consumed, age, physical health, and duration of abuse. Large amounts of drugs taken over a long period often mean more severe withdrawal effects. However, this information is not adequate to know all the withdrawal symptoms you may have and their severity.

At-Home Detox Relapse Rates

A relapse is a risk that faces recovering addicts. However, it is widespread among addicts who try to quit drugs at home. These fallbacks worsen with each that happens. You are likely to relapse because you have not identified your triggers or you do not know how to deal with them. Going back to using drugs is dangerous because it may cause an overdose or death.

A study that examined the relapse rate for alcohol had the following results.[3]

After three years:

• 43.4% of addicts who detoxed on their own were in remission
• 62.4% of those who got help were in remission

After 16 years:

• 42.9% of individuals who sought help and were sober for the immediate three years had relapsed
• 60.5% of individuals who did not seek help and were clean for the three years after they stopped using drugs had relapsed

Based on these results, people who sought help coped better with the urge to use the substances they were quitting. Specialists prepared them for the difficult life of staying sober.

Other Types of Treatment Programs

Home detox is not the only option you have to recover from addiction. These alternatives may be the right fit for you.

Inpatient Treatment

Inpatient or residential treatment involves checking in at the detox facility for detox. You receive 24/7 care from licensed specialists. After a careful assessment, a specialist develops a treatment plan that works for you and monitors you to ensure you overcome the addiction. The specialists also counsel you and your family, preparing you for life after you leave the facility. Your admission lasts a few days, weeks, or months. This treatment is the right option for addicts with severe dependence on substances.

Outpatient Treatment

This alternative comprises regular visits to the facility for treatment. The specialist schedules these visits well to facilitate your recovery. It allows you to continue with most of your activities and is safe to use. Outpatient treatment is appropriate for addicts struggling with mild addiction.

When Should You Call for Help?

Contact 911 when you feel you may require emergency care.

For example, call if:

• You have seizures
• You vomit without stopping for long
• You think you will hurt someone or yourself
• You vomit blood
• You breathe fast or struggle to breathe
• You have chest pain
• You hallucinate
• Your heartbeat is beyond 120 times per minute and shows no sign of slowing down

If You Are Looking After Someone Who Is Detoxing, Call If:

• The person has a seizure
• The person loses consciousness
• The person hallucinates
• The person threatens or becomes violent
• The person becomes agitated and does not calm down

Seek Immediate Medical Care If:

• You are shaky
• You have a high fever
• You experience severe belly pain
• The treatment they prescribed does not go according to plan

Detoxing at a Medically Licensed Detox Center

Specialists can help you cope with the various risks that you face when you detox on your own. They guide you on what to expect, withdrawal symptoms, and dealing with the risk of relapse.

Ascendant New York Drug and Alcohol Detox provides a conducive environment for detox. Additionally, Ascendant has a team of professionals to help you identify your triggers and effective ways to manage them.

Detoxing from hard substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines can have severe effects. Professionals help you deal with them. You can receive therapy through the residential treatment program, the outpatient treatment option, or one of many other available treatment options. Specialists advise you on changes you need to make to avoid a relapse. They also guide you on effective ways to resist the urge to use drugs.

Safety First When Considering Detox at Home

Detoxing at home can be dangerous. While others have done it, your case can be different. You may experience severe withdrawal symptoms, harm your family, or have permanent disorders. Your likelihood of relapsing is also high.

Consider alternatives such as residential or outpatient treatment before settling on home detox. If you must detox at home, seek guidance from addiction specialists at Ascendant New York Drug and Alcohol Detox. They will guide you on what to expect, changes to make, and how to deal with the challenges you may face.

If you determine that medical detox is the safest option, Ascendant’s drug and alcohol addiction treatment in New York can offer you a comfortable environment to withdraw from drugs or alcohol.

Reach out to Ascendant New York Drug and Alcohol Detox today for a medically safe detox and substance abuse rehabilitation.

Amanda is a prolific medical content writer specializing in eating disorders and addiction treatment. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Purdue University with a B.S. in Social Work. Read more