A substance use disorder (SUD) is a medical condition that changes the brain to require drugs or alcohol for normal functionality. When you suddenly stop taking a substance, your brain and body enter a state of withdrawal, causing uncomfortable symptoms. While most go to professional treatment for this process, some wonder how to stop drug addiction without rehab.

Throughout this article, we’ll discuss the process of recovery and what steps you’ll need to take to successfully quit drugs. From there, we’ll examine why professional treatment is important for this process.

What is Drug Addiction?

Drug addiction (or a substance use disorder) occurs when one loses their ability to control the use of legal or illegal medication. Typically, the signs of drug addiction appear when you continue to use a substance despite its harm in your life. ¹

Addiction can start in several different ways. For example, one may initially experiment with recreational drugs in social situations. However, addiction doesn’t occur until the substance is used frequently and the brain and body have changed due to the substance’s impact.

The changes that occur vary from substance to substance. Yet, almost all drugs cause some kind of physical and mental changes that require more of the drug to feel normal.

For example, in opioid addiction, the brain stops producing dopamine (a pain-relieving and pleasure-fulfilling chemical) on its own due to the drug’s influence. In turn, your body experiences withdrawals when you suddenly quit from this lack of dopamine. And it takes the brain time to “re-learn” how to create dopamine again. ²

Withdrawal symptoms are apparent in every drug that can cause addiction. In fact, most people avoid treatment due to the fear of withdrawal symptoms. However, the sooner you overcome these symptoms, the easier it becomes to fully recover from drug addiction.

5 Steps to Stop Drug Addiction Without Rehab

Before we begin, it should be noted that the steps below are what you go through regardless of whether or not you’re in a treatment facility. Since this is a complicated process, the purpose of rehab is to make it easier and provide you with safety.

However, we understand that not everyone has access to a treatment facility. In such cases, this is what you can expect to go through once you decide to quit a substance. Still, we highly recommend you consider rehab before quitting drugs or alcohol on your own.

1.) Admit You Have a Problem

Recovery cannot begin until you admit you have a problem. In most cases, substance abuse changes the brain to develop excuses and justifications for continued use. If you admit you have a problem, you’re taking the first steps towards finding the underlying causes of your addiction.

Of course, this isn’t easy. And it’s one of the biggest reasons a loved one can’t force recovery onto someone else. However, that’s not to say those who seek recovery can’t look to loved ones for help.

Once you’ve admitted a problem, it’s important to have a solid support system helping you along the way. While these friends and family may not have all the answers, they can provide you with a trusted environment when things become most difficult.

2.) Detox – Physical Withdrawals

When you suddenly stop taking drugs or alcohol, your body enters a state of detox where it must eliminate the influence of substances. This process will bring along a unique set of withdrawal symptoms (depending on the drug) that leave you in an uncomfortable state for between one to two weeks. ³

While it’s possible to detox at home, there are two difficulties with this:

• Since the process of physical withdrawals is grueling, it’s only natural many want to turn back to a drug to avoid it. It takes a lot of willpower to overcome this stage of recovery on your own.

• While it’s dependent on circumstances, some drugs will produce withdrawal symptoms that can lead to dangerous complications, such as seizures and severe dehydration. ⁴ This is one of the primary reasons medical facilities are highly recommended for the detox stage. The 24-hour support and monitoring ensure your safety.

There are ways to circumvent some of the symptoms of withdrawal, but these medications can only be applied in a clinical setting.

There are also holistic medicines for withdrawal. However, since there’s no evidence to suggest they’re more effective than pharmaceuticals, a treatment facility remains the best course of action for withdrawal.

3.) Mental and Emotional Withdrawals

Once the body has been cleansed of chemical influence, the brain must undergo withdrawal. While symptoms vary depending on the drug, the most common mental and emotional withdrawals include: ⁵

• Agitation
• Cravings
• Depression
• Emotional overreaction or numbness
• Lack of motivation
• Rapid mood changes
• Sleeping problems
• Stress sensitivity

Of these symptoms, cravings are the most important. These are strong desires to use a substance to fulfill a problem that may be caused by mental withdrawal (i.e. anxiety or depression). In many cases, cravings can be so intense and result in a lack of control, leading to relapse. ⁶

In most cases, mental and emotional withdrawals are handled with psychotherapies and support groups. These allow you to understand where your addiction comes from and develop coping techniques to overcome these challenges. ⁷

The length of mental withdrawals varies depending on the person and their previous addiction. However, most people will spend anywhere between six months to one year in this stage of recovery.

4.) Relapse Prevention

The potential for relapse is likely going to be a battle you face for the rest of your life. Luckily, it becomes easier with time. However, during the physical and mental withdrawal stages, it will be most prominent.

As your brain and body undergo so many changes, there’s a desire to make things easier on yourself by simply giving in. In a more specific example, if you’re overcoming an opioid addiction, your brain needs a lot of time to “relearn” how to make dopamine on its own. A craving may be your brain’s way of saying, “You can get all that dopamine back if you take opioids again.” ⁸

Of course, different drugs have varying mechanisms for causing cravings and relapse. But what remains the same is your brain and body simply need time to readjust and overcome the damage a substance has done to them.

One of the best ways to prevent relapse is by finding a support group of others who were addicted to the same substance as you (i.e. Alcoholics Anonymous). Through these groups, you can find others going through similar experiences, discuss your issues, and work together to overcome the problem.

5.) Moving On

As mentioned, you’ll likely struggle with the threat of relapse for most of your life. However, the best way to overcome these desires is simply by incorporating other hobbies.

Some people find exercising to be a great substitute as it creates endorphins that can help the brain and body repair itself after addiction. ⁹ Others turn to more artistic forms of expression, such as writing or painting, to keep their minds busy for a long period.

Regardless of your decisions, the most important thing is to find a purpose that goes beyond drugs and alcohol.

Why Professional Help is So Important

As you can see, the steps of recovery discussed here can be done without the help of rehab. However, there are a few reasons why a treatment facility remains your best option:

• Detoxing from a substance can be dangerous and a medical facility allows for your safety.

• Mental and emotional withdrawals are difficult and often require the guidance of a mental health professional.

• Rehab facilities will have resources to further your recovery, such as medication and support groups.

• Through a treatment center, you’ll have your recovery process laid out. This gives you a clear idea of the steps you need to take to overcome addiction.

Final Word

Overcoming drug addiction isn’t easy. Overcoming it on your own is even more difficult. It’s unlikely you’ll find a medical professional who recommends you go through the withdrawal process without the help of a facility.

Beyond the fact that it can be dangerous, the experience is so intense that most people who attempt such a feat relapse. Through a rehab facility, you ensure the best chance of recovery.

References

¹ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); Office of the Surgeon General (US). Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health [Internet]. Washington (DC): US Department of Health and Human Services; 2016 Nov. CHAPTER 2, THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF SUBSTANCE USE, MISUSE, AND ADDICTION. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424849/

² Kosten TR, George TP. The neurobiology of opioid dependence: implications for treatment. Sci Pract Perspect. 2002 Jul;1(1):13-20. doi: 10.1151/spp021113. PMID: 18567959; PMCID: PMC2851054.

³ Detoxification and Substance Abuse Treatment [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2006. (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 45.) 1 Overview, Essential Concepts, and Definitions in Detoxification. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64119/

⁴ Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. 4, Withdrawal Management. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK310652/

⁵ Gupta M, Gokarakonda SB, Attia FN. Withdrawal Syndromes. [Updated 2023 Apr 29]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459239/

⁶ Tiffany ST, Wray JM. The clinical significance of drug craving. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2012 Feb;1248:1-17. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06298.x. Epub 2011 Dec 16. PMID: 22172057; PMCID: PMC4041083.

⁷ McGovern MP, Carroll KM. Evidence-based practices for substance use disorders. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2003 Dec;26(4):991-1010. doi: 10.1016/s0193-953x(03)00073-x. PMID: 14711132; PMCID: PMC3678283.

⁸ Guenzel N, McChargue D. Addiction Relapse Prevention. 2023 Jul 21. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 31855344.

⁹ Smith MA, Lynch WJ. Exercise as a potential treatment for drug abuse: evidence from preclinical studies. Front Psychiatry. 2012 Jan 12;2:82. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00082. PMID: 22347866; PMCID: PMC3276339.