Drug Detox

What Is Drug Detoxification?

Drug detoxification is the body’s natural process of removing substances from your system. Your liver, kidneys, and other organs break down any byproducts of alcohol or drug use and then get rid of them through your sweat, urine, etc.

Drug detox is usually the first step in getting help for alcohol and drug addiction.

Similarly, a medical detox is a scenario where a person undergoes a drug detox under medical supervision. Healthcare professionals monitor your vitals during a medical detox and provide complementary care, such as medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

While the two terms sound similar, it’s important to remember that drug detox describes the process your body goes through as it normalizes after alcohol or drug use. In contrast, medical detox is a supervised treatment type.

Drug Detox and Substance Abuse Treatment

Drug detox is naturally the first step in getting help for a drug or alcohol addiction, as it’s your body’s way of self-regulating once you finally quit any drugs you were abusing.

Some treatment centers (usually inpatient rehab) offer medical detox as part of your substance abuse treatment plan, while others (typically outpatient treatment centers) can provide you with a referral for a medical detox facility before you move further in your treatment.

What Factors Affect The Drug Detoxification Process?

As your body adjusts to its new “normal,” various factors can affect how it processes any drug byproducts out of your system. These factors can affect how long the detox process takes and what your overall experience will be.

Understanding these factors can help give you an idea of what to expect during this critical phase of addiction treatment.

Type of Drug Use

The type of substance you used is going to be a significant factor in how the detox process goes. Different drugs have different effects on your body, both during use and as your system begins to heal.

For example, opioids (e.g., heroin, oxycodone, and fentanyl) can have a particularly challenging detox process. Because opioids can create such an intense dependence, opioid withdrawal symptoms are known to be pretty uncomfortable.

Symptoms like muscle aches, anxiety, nausea, and cravings often appear in the withdrawal phase for opioid use disorder—but the good news is that with the proper support and care, many people successfully make it through detox to complete their addiction treatment programs and live healthier lives.

Amount Taken and Frequency of Use

How much of the drug you used and how often you used it will play a significant role in your overall detox experience.

For instance, if you used large amounts or used a drug frequently, you’ve likely developed a stronger dependence, which will likely result in more intense withdrawal symptoms.

These symptoms could include everything from severe cravings and mood swings to physical discomforts like headaches, nausea, and fatigue. Your body has become accustomed to relying on the drug, so when it’s suddenly removed, it can take time for your system to recalibrate.

Physical Factors

While drugs can impact everyone differently based on their own physical characteristics, so can drug detox. Your age, overall health (including mental health), genetics, and environment can all have an impact on what your drug detox experience will be like.

Research shows that age can affect the intensity of substance use disorder, and it is similar to drug detox. As you age, your metabolism and body’s natural detoxifying processes slow down, which can potentially cause drug detox to take a bit longer the older you are.

Additionally, age can impact whether you have underlying health conditions—and your physical health plays a role in drug detox by affecting how well your body handles the stress of the process.

Conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure can cause the detox process to be more taxing on your system and potentially lead to additional complications or more intense symptoms.

As for your genetics, the drug detox process can vary based on a multitude of factors, just from your DNA—from susceptibility to certain complications during detox to how sensitive you are overall to the process.

Lifestyle Influences

While much of how your body reacts to detox is based on your health and genetics, you can still make some changes to improve your experience.

Your diet, physical activity, and hydration levels can all help support your body during detox.

Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to support your body. Withdrawal symptoms can contribute to dehydration, and consistent water intake can help your liver and other organs flush out waste and drug byproducts.

Meanwhile, eating a nutrient-rich diet will help you maintain your energy levels and allow your body to heal during detox.

You can also engage in moderate exercise (like taking walks or doing yoga) to ease some physical and mental challenges that arise throughout your drug detox experience.

However, you don’t want to overstrain your body by suddenly adopting an intense fitness regimen or drastically altering your diet. The detox process is demanding on your body, so make gradual adjustments and listen to how it responds.

You can also work with your healthcare provider or addiction counselor for additional insight, advice, and support.

Drug Detoxification Timeline

As mentioned before, how long a drug detox takes and how intense it might be for you will vary based on a variety of factors. However, there’s a general timeline for how drug detox works in the body.

The initial phase usually starts a few hours after your last dose, and your liver has begun breaking down the drug and its byproducts. During this initial phase, you may start to experience withdrawal symptoms since your liver has begun its work.

Symptoms of withdrawal will vary based on prior drug use, but common side effects include:

• Mood swings
• Cravings for the drug
• Difficulty sleeping
• Exhaustion or fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Brain fog, confusion
• Increased heart rate
• Memory issues
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea
• Upset stomach
• Headaches
• High blood pressure
• Difficulty regulating emotions

As you enter the acute withdrawal phase (a few days to about a week after your last dose), drug withdrawal symptoms will reach their intensity. Your liver is still hard at work breaking down the drug and its byproducts, preparing it to leave the body through your urine and feces.

Some drugs, like alcohol, can also be expelled from the body through the lungs and skin, resulting in a noticeable smell, as alcohol may be released in your breath or sweat.

Finally, during the post-acute withdrawal phase, your body will continue to metabolize and excrete any remaining drug byproducts from your system. However, you will notice the process will become much less intense.

Some side effects that occur during the post-acute withdrawal phase tend to be related to mood and energy as your brain and body continue to heal and adjust.

When to Seek Medical Help

Some withdrawal symptoms can be life-threatening—particularly when detoxing from alcohol or benzodiazepines. In both cases, seek medical advice before quitting to ensure your safety.

While most other drug withdrawals aren’t as dangerous, it’s always safer to talk to a medical professional before going cold turkey or trying to taper your dosage yourself.

Additionally, they can also help you ease your withdrawal symptoms; even if they aren’t deadly, many are uncomfortable, and seeking professional help can make your detox process much less challenging.

In the meantime, if you experience any of the following signs during your drug detox, you should seek medical care immediately.

Severe Withdrawal Symptoms

If your withdrawal symptoms are becoming unbearable or have reached an unexpected level of intensity, you likely need professional support.

For example, the appearance of dangerous conditions like delirium tremens (DTs) in alcohol withdrawal or severe opioid withdrawal symptoms like extreme anxiety, muscle pain, or persistent vomiting require medical intervention.

Other troubling symptoms include hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and fatigue that affect your ability to go about your daily life.

Additional Physical Reactions

Sometimes, drug detox can cause unexpected bodily reactions. Symptoms such as seizures, severe dehydration, or significant cardiovascular issues, especially when quitting cold turkey, can be deadly.

Additionally, having pre-existing health conditions (i.e., liver disease, diabetes), the detox process might cause your other symptoms to worsen.

For instance, someone with diabetes can experience fluctuations in blood sugar levels during detox, leading to dangerous changes if they don’t adjust their diabetic treatment.

Due to these risks, seeking medical advice before you attempt drug detox is often the best and safest way to ensure your success and overall well-being.

How to Support Your Body During Detox

During drug detox, take one day at a time and keep in mind that your body is healing. Here are some things you can do to help support this process.

Drink Enough Water

Dehydration can be caused by common withdrawal symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating and can lead to additional health issues. Drinking plenty of water helps keep you hydrated and potentially avoid dehydration-related problems.

Additionally, staying well-hydrated supports the body’s natural detoxification processes by helping to flush out toxins and other byproducts from prior drug use.

Your kidneys and liver need water to function, and since these organs are working overtime to detox your system, getting enough water ensures they keep functioning properly.

Eat Nutritious Foods

Eating foods high in nutrients can improve your mood, boost your energy levels, and support your body as it detoxifies and heals.

Here are some examples of foods you can focus on during drug detox:

• Fruits and vegetables: Leafy greens, berries, apples, and citrus fruits contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support your overall health.
• Lean proteins: Chicken, turkey, fish, and plant-based proteins like beans and lentils help repair tissues and maintain muscle mass.
• Whole grains: Rice, quinoa, oats, and whole-wheat products offer energy and fiber, which supports digestion.
• Nuts and seeds: Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds give your body healthy fats and essential nutrients.
• Hydrating foods: Cucumbers, watermelon, and celery have high water content, which helps you maintain your hydration levels and support kidney function.
• Fermented foods: Yogurt, skyr, sauerkraut, and kimchi support a healthy gut, which can be helpful as some withdrawal symptoms cause gut issues.

Move Your Body

Staying somewhat active during detox has several benefits that help your body heal.

Some main benefits of mild exercise include:

• Improve sleep quality
• Reduce stress
• Offering a distraction
• Boost metabolism (faster processing)
• Better mood
• Enhanced mental health (i.e., reduced anxiety or depression symptoms)

Get Plenty of Rest

Sleep is one of your best natural ways of healing, as much of your body’s repair processes occur when you aren’t awake. Getting proper sleep will help your body continue to heal, boost your immune system, and help you regulate mood and energy levels during the day.

Work on incorporating good sleep habits, such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and creating a restful environment.

Establishing a regular sleep routine by going to bed and waking up simultaneously each day helps regulate your internal clock and improves sleep quality.

Additionally, ensure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool to promote better sleep. You can also use blackout curtains and cozy blankets to make your sleeping space more comfortable and inviting.

Follow Medical Advice

If you sought healthcare support before you began your detox journey, you should follow your doctor’s advice—especially if it involves MAT.

For instance, if you are recovering from opioid use disorder, your doctor may have prescribed medication to help you taper off your opiate use (i.e., methadone).

You may instead be prescribed something like buprenorphine or naltrexone to help you manage withdrawal symptoms and avoid cravings.

Not all drug withdrawals have specific medications that doctors can use to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, but they may offer a prescription to help with specific withdrawal side effects, like sleep aids or antidepressants.

Adhering to your doctor’s prescribed medication schedule (or other instructions) is crucial for preventing relapse and minimizing the risk of complications that could arise from being inconsistent.

Find Drug or Alcohol Detox Treatment Near You

If you’re ready to take the first step in substance abuse treatment, you can find resources near you by visiting SAMHSA’s online treatment locator or by calling their 24/7 phone number at 1-800-662-4357.