In 2020, 40.3 million people in the United States had a substance use disorder. Addiction presents many challenges, not least of which is the process of getting sober. In fact, many people who suffer from these disorders hesitate to try to break away from the hold the substance has on them because of the fear of this stage of the process.
When considering the withdrawal process, the worry could be justified. Withdrawal can put a lot of stress on the body and lead to all manner of dangerous symptoms. However, there’s another option: detox. The detox process can help you get sober without dealing with the uncomfortable and even life-threatening issues withdrawal can cause.
But what is the difference between these two options? Keep reading to learn more about detox vs. withdrawal.
Understanding Addiction: Why Getting Sober is Complex
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease characterized by the uncontrollable urge to use drugs or alcohol despite the harmful consequences the use can result in. The changes it makes to the brain seriously impact a person’s chances of getting sober without help.
Flooding the Brain’s Reward System
Substance use disorders essentially hijack the brain. They affect its reward center, flooding it with a neurotransmitter called dopamine.¹
When the body’s reward system is working correctly, it motivates people to engage in activities that help them thrive, including eating, having sex, and spending time with loved ones. Because of the powerful release of dopamine that substance use causes, the reward system categorizes it as a pleasurable activity that it wants to repeat.
The problem becomes even more complex because dopamine plays a role in learning and memory.² These are crucial elements in the transition from liking something to becoming addicted to it.
Repeated exposure to drugs or alcohol leads nerve cells throughout the brain to communicate in a way that connects liking something to wanting it. At the same time, another issue develops.
Weakening Self-Control
Repeated substance use also impacts the areas of the brain that handle decision-making and behavior control, leading to self-control difficulties.³ This explains the compulsive nature of addiction.
Development of Tolerance
The more you use the substance, the more the brain adapts to it. This leads the brain to reduce the ability of certain cells in the reward system to respond to it. Tolerance develops.⁴
You no longer experience the same euphoria you did when you first started using the substance. That means using more of it to try to achieve that same initial high. Your ability to feel pleasure from other things is also diminished.
Inability to Function Without the Substance
As the substance use disorder progresses, consuming drugs or alcohol is no longer about feeling good but about avoiding the serious symptoms that can occur if you stop.
You can think of your body as a counterweight system. When you’re using a substance regularly, it will try to balance itself out by taking actions like reducing dopamine receptors.
If you suddenly remove the substance, the body can’t adjust, and it falls out of balance. The counter-regulatory mechanisms it employs no longer have an opposition, so they overwhelm your system. That leads to powerful withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal: Why It’s Dangerous
Abruptly stopping substance use is a shock to your nervous system, leading to the start of withdrawal. Withdrawal refers to the physical and mental symptoms that you can experience, the nature and power of which can depend on the type of substance you use, the quantity of it you’ve regularly consumed, and how long you’ve been using it.
Although withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable for all kinds of substances, stopping some “cold turkey” can actually put your life at risk. One of these is alcohol.
Some people develop alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Alcohol has a depressive effect on your nervous system, slowing down your brain function. Your central nervous system (CNS) gets used to this and begins to work harder to counteract the depressant effects.⁵ When you remove alcohol, your CNS can’t regulate itself fast enough.
You can experience severe symptoms, including:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Tremors
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- High body temperature
- Confusion
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Delirium
The longer you’ve had an alcohol use disorder, the more serious the symptoms can be. In the worst cases, it can lead to death.
Other substances also pose high risks if you attempt to stop using them abruptly on your own. Benzodiazepine withdrawal has the risk of seizures and hallucinations, and even opioids, which most people don’t associate with difficult withdrawals, can result in severe dehydration because of the vomiting and diarrhea they cause.
Attempting withdrawal on your own doesn’t just mean putting your life at risk. It also means an increased chance of relapsing because you may seek out drugs or alcohol again just to minimize your withdrawal symptoms. You’ll also experience serious cravings that could overwhelm you.
Why Detox Programs Can Help
Detoxification refers to the process of the body getting rid of all traces of the addictive substance. This is the first step when getting treatment for a substance use disorder, and it takes place under supervision.
Medical detox services help you remove the substance from your system without experiencing the harsh symptoms you would otherwise have. You can also get help curbing cravings, leading to better outcomes.
When it comes to detox vs. withdrawal, detox programs offer you the chance to begin getting sober on the right foot and in a positive manner.
You can participate in a detox program by entering inpatient treatment, which involves you staying at the facilities for days at a time to get the exact level of support you need. Inpatient treatment offers 24/7 monitoring, which is essential when going through detox.
You also have the option of outpatient services with a variety of intensity levels. These allow you to get the help you need while still being able to go home each night. For those who have families or work responsibilities, outpatient options can be the right choice.
Detox vs. Withdrawal: Benefits of Medical Detox Programs
Detox services offer significant benefits no matter what type of treatment programs you choose.
Medical Supervision
When you choose medical detox vs. withdrawal, you have medical professionals ready to help you. If you experience symptoms that are uncomfortable, they can quickly adjust your medications. This level of supervision provides the peace of mind you need.
Less Severe Symptoms
You don’t have to worry about seizures, hallucinations, or dehydration risks when you enter a medical detox program. This means you can focus on starting to make the behavioral changes necessary for sobriety.
You also experience less severe cravings. Cravings are serious concerns that can impact whether you stick to a sober life or not. With medication curbing them, your body can start getting used to not needing the substance to the same degree.
Structure
Another important benefit of medical detox vs. withdrawal is that you’ll have a structure to follow. This can bring stability to your days, which is essential after the chaos that a substance use disorder can cause. A structure can help you reset so that you can begin healing.
Peer Support
Medical detox programs allow you to start meeting people who are going through the same kind of challenges you are. Substance use disorders can be isolating illnesses, and isolation only makes the addiction worse. By being able to participate in group sessions and speak with others in detox, you can see that you’re not alone.
Removal of Common Triggers
Anything that triggers cravings can be dangerous to your sobriety. People, places, and situations can all be triggers. If, for example, you used to get drugs from your neighbor, every time you see them, you could feel cravings because your brain associates that person, and even their house, with drugs.
When you enter a medical detox program, especially an inpatient option, you can remove yourself from these common triggers. The fewer cravings you experience, the better your chances of remaining sober.
Improving Your Long-Term Sobriety Chances
If you are able to avoid some of the worst withdrawal symptoms and the powerful cravings that can lead you to use the substance again, your chances of long-term sobriety improve. Someone who’s dealing with painful withdrawal symptoms will be tempted to use the substance again just to get relief from their discomfort.
Access to Individualized Care
When you enter a treatment program that offers medical detox services, you have access to a variety of methodologies. Substance use disorder recovery is not a one-size-fits-all process, so being able to get customized care makes a difference. That’s not something that you can achieve if you go through the process on your own.
Steps After Detox
Once you complete a medical detox program, you can choose the kind of treatment program you want to participate in. For many, inpatient services are the best choice. These allow you to step away from your life and the triggers that come with it so you can focus on getting sober.
Inpatient services require that you remain at the facilities for a set period. You’ll receive medical supervision throughout your stay, as well as access to individual and group therapy sessions to begin working through why you may have begun using drugs or alcohol in the first place.
If you have mental health conditions, as well, you can begin treatment for these to help you improve symptoms you may have been self-medicating and learn healthy coping skills.
Despite its many benefits, not everyone can participate in inpatient services. If you have work or family responsibilities, you can instead choose outpatient services. You’ll still get the intensive care you need, but you can go home every night. The number of treatment hours varies depending on the program you choose.
Intensive outpatient services are particularly helpful because they offer significant hours of treatment while allowing you to learn how to manage your everyday life.
Begin Your Path to Sobriety
Every journey begins with one step. If you’ve been battling a substance use disorder, this first step is stopping, but it requires that you do so safely. That’s not always simple, especially when dealing with potentially dangerous withdrawal reactions. That’s where medical detox services can help.
They allow you to break free from the hold the substance has on your body so that you can start the process of breaking its hold on your mind. With medical detox, you receive supervision from medical professionals as well as medications that can help you avoid the worst symptoms.
At Plus by APN, our team offers the chance to get on the path to sobriety without putting your life at risk. With various programs available, you can get the exact care you need. Contact us by calling 424.644.6486 or filling out our online contact form.
References
- Canver BR, Newman RK, Gomez AE. Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome. [Updated 2024 Feb 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441882/
- Volkow ND, Fowler JS, Wang G, Swanson JM, Telang F. Dopamine in Drug Abuse and Addiction: Results of Imaging Studies and Treatment Implications. Arch Neurol. 2007;64(11):1575–1579. doi:10.1001/archneur.64.11.1575
- Clos, Mareike et al. “Dopamine is a double-edged sword: dopaminergic modulation enhances memory retrieval performance but impairs metacognition.” Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology vol. 44,3 (2019): 555-563. doi:10.1038/s41386-018-0246-y
- NIDA. “Drug Misuse and Addiction.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 5 Jan. 2024, https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-misuse-addiction Accessed 21 Jul. 2024.
- Pietrzykowski, Andrzej Z, and Steven N Treistman. “The molecular basis of tolerance.” Alcohol research & health : the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism vol. 31,4 (2008): 298-309.