![]() ![]() In other words, some people may be more successful with the help of medication, not just willpower. Moreover, another study with about 100 smokers found that those who took a medication to reduce smoking enjoyment before quitting had higher rates of staying tobacco-free. However, the evidence is limited that quitting smoking cold turkey works. Those who quit cold turkey were more likely to remain tobacco-free 6 months later compared to those who gradually reduced their use. This was the case in this study of about 700 adult smokers. There is some evidence that quitting cold turkey can work for smoking. Depending on what you are coming off of, they may also slowly wean your body off of the substance by giving you a similar substance in smaller and smaller amounts over time. The process involves supervision by medical professionals who may use medications to reduce withdrawal symptoms. Detox is the safe removal of a substance from your body. The danger of withdrawal is the reason why detoxification (detox) is often the first step in recovery. For example, withdrawal from opioids can include symptoms like: This process your body goes through as a result of quitting cold turkey is known as withdrawal. This can be very uncomfortable or even dangerous. So, if you suddenly stop giving your body the substance, it struggles to function without it. If you are physically dependent on a substance, that means that your body has gotten so used to the presence of it that it actually needs it to function. These changes can lead you to have strong cravings for the substance or not be able to control how much of it you use.įurthermore, quitting a substance cold turkey could be very dangerous. Addiction can also cause long-lasting changes to your brain. Some researchers consider a substance use disorder to be a biological disorder, similar to the way diabetes is a biological disease. Willpower is not enough to recover from a substance use disorder. ![]() You can have willpower but still struggle in your recovery. But that was not related to their status of recovery from a substance use disorder. Most of them reported being very strong-willed. In one study, about 70 people were interviewed over 3 years. In most cases, willpower is not enough to help you quit drugs or alcohol. Is willpower enough to help you kick drugs/alcohol cold turkey? When people use the term “cold turkey,” they are referring to quitting on your own without getting professional help. These goosebumps look much like the skin on a frozen turkey, and that is where the term comes from. This can cause your skin to develop “goosebumps,” or many tiny, closely spaced, breakouts on your forearms. If you suddenly stop using a substance when you are physically dependent on it, you might experience chills. Quitting something “cold turkey” means that you suddenly stop using the substance after having used it for a while. So, simply having willpower and quitting cold turkey usually don’t work well for recovery. These include things such as the severity of your addiction and the strength of your social support system. However, several factors are actually involved in successful recovery, not just personal traits like willpower. It is not uncommon to think that willpower is enough to overcome addiction. ![]()
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