According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism survey in 2021, 213.2 million adults reported that they have drunk alcohol at some point in their lives. Of those, 28.6 million reported having alcohol use disorder, and only 1.3 million received any treatment for their disorder. If you or a loved one are experiencing heavy alcohol consumption, quitting drinking cold turkey may help to stop the addiction. Quitting drinking cold turkey refers to abruptly stopping alcohol consumption without medical help or gradually reducing the amount consumed. This can be life-threatening if not taken seriously. While seeking professional help to quit drinking is the best practice, quitting alcohol can improve your quality of life.
In this article, we will cover the effects of alcohol, discuss the implications of quitting cold turkey, and the benefits of quitting drinking.
The Effects of Alcohol
Drinking alcohol can have many different effects on your physical and mental health. While minimal drinking may not cause significant harm, any amount of alcohol can impact your well-being. Some of the areas of the body affected by alcohol include:
- Liver damage
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Immune system risks
- Mental health conditions
- Cognitive function impairment
Alcohol Withdrawal
When you begin the process of quitting alcohol, you begin going through alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Alcohol withdrawal refers to the symptoms that heavy drinkers may experience once they decide to stop their alcohol intake. Because the body becomes dependent on alcohol, quitting alcohol cold turkey can become dangerous. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe, with severe symptoms needing medical attention. Some of the most common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are:
- Anxiety
- Nausea or vomiting
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Headache
- Hallucinations
- Delirium tremens
- Seizures
- Death
Is It Dangerous To Quit Drinking Cold Turkey?
The short answer: Yes, it is dangerous. Abruptly stopping drinking alcohol can cause many dangerous side effects. Many of these effects are similar to the alcohol withdrawal symptoms listed above. To properly manage these symptoms and ensure recovery, it’s crucial to receive care from medical professionals.
If you are drinking heavily or binge drinking, the safest way to quit drinking would be to utilize a treatment center for medical detox. This detoxification allows your body to slowly taper off alcohol instead of abruptly stopping.
Tapering Off vs. Cold Turkey
When it comes to quitting alcohol, individuals often face the choice between tapering off their alcohol consumption gradually or quitting cold turkey. Both approaches have their pros and cons, and the decision depends on individual circumstances, level of alcohol dependence, and personal preferences.
Tapering Off
Tapering off involves gradually reducing alcohol intake over a certain amount of time until complete abstinence is achieved. This approach allows the body to adjust gradually. Some of the pros of tapering off are:
- Reduced withdrawal symptoms
- Mentally prepared for abstinence
- Controlled cravings
Some cons of tapering off are:
- Risk of relapse
- Slower process of detox
- Difficult to maintain the tapering schedule
Cold Turkey
As mentioned previously, cold turkey is when someone stops alcohol consumption without warning. Some of the pros of quitting cold turkey are:
- An immediate break from alcohol intake
- Can provide a stronger commitment to sobriety
- Faster recovery time
Some cons of quitting drinking cold turkey are:
- Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- Emotionally and mentally challenging
- Risk of relapse
How to Quit Drinking Cold Turkey
Quitting drinking cold turkey may seem overwhelming initially, and it can still be dangerous to do without medical supervision. However, it is beneficial in providing a way for those in active addiction to stop drinking. There are many strategies to use when quitting drinking cold turkey to make sure you are successful in your recovery. Some of the strategies you can use are:
- Involvement in social activities
- Visiting an alcohol rehab center
- Learn stress reduction techniques
- Removing yourself from triggering situations
- Engaging in mindful-based activities
While these strategies may work for some, it’s essential to remember that every journey is different, and what may work for others may not work for you. Finding what benefits you the most is vital to quitting drinking.
Benefits of Quitting Drinking
Whether you are quitting cold turkey, slowly tapering off, or going through detox, the benefits of quitting drinking are enough to make you want to quit drinking. Being sober has long-lasting benefits for your overall health. Some of the biggest benefits include:
- Improvement in most cognitive function damage caused by drinking
- Lowered blood pressure
- Lowered risk of cancer
- Maintaining healthy body weight
- Reversal of liver damage
- Improved mental health
Alcohol Addiction Treatment at Knoxville Recovery Center
Suffering from alcohol addiction can be isolating and damaging to your physical and mental health. Understanding you have a problem is the first step in the recovery journey, and after people realize many of them may try to stop drinking cold turkey. As mentioned above, there are many reasons why this would not be the best idea, but quitting alcohol is a way to life-long sobriety.
At Knoxville Recovery Center in Knoxville, TN, we can help you on your way to sobriety. We offer medical detox, addiction treatment, therapeutic nutritional program, and aftercare services. Our addiction treatment programs provide holistic, individualized, and evidence-based treatment to make sure every client has a chance at changing their life.
If you or a loved one are experiencing alcohol addiction or substance abuse and want treatment, contact us today to learn more about our programs. Knoxville Recovery Center is here to help you heal.
