5 Reasons Not To Quit Heroin Cold Turkey

Millions of Americans are currently living with opioid use disorder (OUD). According to SAMHSA, approximately 6.1 million people aged 12 or older had an opioid use disorder in the past year. Much of what is sold as heroin today is actually illicitly manufactured fentanyl or a fentanyl mixture, making unsupervised detox more dangerous than ever.

Quitting heroin cold-turkey, or very suddenly, without the support of medical professionals, carries serious health risks. In severe cases, this can be life-threatening.

Overcoming heroin addiction is possible. Ideally, this should begin in an inpatient treatment setting, such as a detox center, for optimal safety and medical support.

Here are five reasons why trying to detox from heroin cold-turkey without medical supervision is not recommended:

1. Severe Heroin Withdrawal Symptoms

Heroin withdrawal can develop when someone who has developed a physical dependence on heroin, with or without a formal diagnosis of opioid use disorder, stops using it.

Some physical symptoms of heroin withdrawal, such as runny nose, cramping, and muscle aches, aren’t necessarily dangerous.

Outside of a supervised healthcare setting, however, some symptoms of heroin withdrawal can become severe without medical attention and treatment.

Severe risks of heroin withdrawal can include:

• severe dehydration (from vomiting, sweating, and diarrhea)
• electrolyte imbalances
• thoughts of hurting oneself
• increased risk of suicide

Anyone experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm during withdrawal should seek emergency help immediately. Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7.

If you use multiple substances, including benzodiazepines, alcohol, cocaine, or methamphetamine, withdrawal can be significantly more dangerous and complex. Benzodiazepine and alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening on their own. Additionally, xylazine, a veterinary sedative now commonly mixed into the fentanyl supply, does not respond to naloxone and requires specialized medical management.

Heroin withdrawal is not something that can be easily managed alone. And if symptoms become severe, they could lead to very serious and potentially fatal medical issues.

2. Increased Risk Of Relapse

Getting off heroin is very difficult in part because of heroin withdrawal symptoms. This can become uncomfortable enough that a person might return to their drug use.

Trying to detox from heroin use at home also carries a higher risk for relapse because there’s easier access to heroin than if you’re detoxing in a treatment center.

A lack of medical support, uncomfortable withdrawal, and other triggers that can occur while trying to detox cold-turkey can result in relapse and perpetuate a cycle of drug addiction.

3. Strong Heroin Cravings

One of the most difficult challenges a person can face in early abstinence and early addiction recovery is strong cravings or urges to use heroin.

Within a detox program, withdrawal symptoms and cravings may be managed with medications like methadone or buprenorphine (Suboxone). Naltrexone is another effective option that can be started after the detox period is complete

But if you’re detoxing cold-turkey, cravings for heroin may become very powerful and all-consuming, making it difficult to think about or do anything else.

4. Risk Of Overdose After Heroin Detox

A significant danger of cold-turkey detox is the body’s reduced tolerance for heroin after you complete heroin detoxification.

Reduced tolerance for heroin means that your body won’t react the same way if you go back to the amount of heroin used before. Instead, this could cause an overdose.

Signs of heroin overdose include:

• very slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
• bluish skin, lips, and fingernails
• confusion
• inability to speak
• low blood pressure
• weak pulse
• loss of consciousness

A heroin overdose can be life-threatening. And it’s a high risk for anyone who detoxes from heroin alone or without following up with a substance use disorder treatment provider after detox.

5. Lack Of Medical Support

Trying to quit heroin outside of a healthcare setting can be dangerous. With medical support, the primary dangers of heroin detox can be prevented.

Professional support for heroin detox is offered by inpatient detox centers and some outpatient treatment providers. Medical detox, or inpatient detox, is the safest treatment option.

Medical detox programs for getting off heroin can offer:

• 24-hour medical supervision
• a quiet place to detox
• medicine for withdrawal symptoms
• referral for treatment at a nearby rehab center
• naloxone on-site
• mental health support
• case management for post-detox planning

Detoxing from heroin is just the first step toward overcoming addiction. A quality detox program will provide structured aftercare planning and connect you with ongoing treatment, such as medication-assisted treatment, outpatient counseling, or residential rehab, before you leave.

Find Addiction Treatment Today

Browse our directory or contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for more information about addiction recovery.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff