When they realize they have become dependent on alcohol or another drug, many people initially attempt to end their substance abuse on their own.

Some try to taper their use of the drug, slowly reducing how much they use and how often they use it, until they’re at a point where they can stop completely. Others attempt to quit “cold turkey,” or abruptly stop using the drug without tapering or making any other adjustments.

Either of these approaches can be effective, but they both also present considerable risks. For example:

• Tapering your use of an addictive substance can be extremely difficult to do. One of the characteristics of addiction is that once you start using a substance, you may find it virtually impossible to stop. For example, if you’ve become addicted to alcohol, trying to just have one or two drinks may not be nearly as easy as you hoped.
• Trying and failing to taper your substance use can feel like a failure, and may cause you to believe that you simply aren’t able to quit. This can delay your efforts to seek help, which means you will remain at risk of the myriad dangers that can result from chronic substance abuse.
• Stopping cold turkey can cause the rapid onset of many of the physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms that we listed in the previous section. Even though these symptoms usually don’t last that long, when you are in the midst of withdrawal, they can easily become overwhelming.
• When you try to detox on your own at home, it won’t be difficult for you to access the substance you’ve become addicted to. As your symptoms become more intense, the knowledge that you can alleviate your distress by using the substance again can quickly push you back into your bad old habits.
• Detox doesn’t usually cause lasting physical or psychological damage. But in some circumstances – especially severe cases of alcohol addiction – withdrawal can be a life-threatening experience. In situations like this, the absence of professional oversight can be fatal.

One way to avoid these risks and increase your likelihood of successful withdrawal is to begin your recovery journey in a detox program.

When you choose a reputable program like Music City Detox, you will be in a closely supervised environment where you won’t have access to addictive substances. Depending on your needs, the detox staff may provide both medical and therapeutic support to protect your health and help you manage your symptoms.

Then, as you near the end of your time in detox, your treatment team can work with you to determine which type of follow-on care is best for you. Entering a residential or outpatient program after detox can significantly improve your ability to resist relapse and achieve successful, long-term recovery.