Drug and Alcohol Detox: Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Published: 10/16/2025
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Any time an individual is addicted to drugs or alcohol, there is a significant risk that when the substance is no longer taken, there will be signs of withdrawal. These withdrawal signs or symptoms are often the most difficult part of any drug or alcohol detoxification process.

Drug and alcohol detox consists of taking the time to allow the remaining toxins from the substance to take their course and be eliminated from the body, and giving your body time to adjust to functioning without the substance, typically with some level of medical supervision.

Symptoms of Drug and Alcohol Detox

During the time that drugs or alcohol are still present and are being released from the body, there are often feelings of withdrawal, which may consist of the following symptoms:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach cramps
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Agitation or irritability
  • Sleep disturbances or insomnia
  • Lack of motivation

Many other symptoms of withdrawal are also likely to persist when an individual is going through the early or late phases of detox. The symptoms vary from person to person, based on the substances used and other factors. Detox typically lasts between 3 and 10 days, although some mild symptoms can extend for longer.

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About Drug Detox

Drug & Alcohol Detox
Undergoing detox alone can be dangerous.

Depending on the type of drug that a person takes, drug detox may take anywhere from 3 days to a month or more.

In most cases, drug detox averages about 10 days, but this can differ from one individual to the next or can vary based on the type of drug that is being used. During drug detox, the individual stops taking the drug and allows the negative effects of withdrawal to begin to take place.

These effects will typically peak after about 5 days or so and, in time, will gradually taper off.

Drug detox is necessary because without effectively stopping the physical dependence that an individual has on a drug, there is little hope for actually overcoming the addiction.

Medically monitored or medically supervised drug detox is the safest way of overcoming this physical dependence. After detox, the person will begin the long periods of counseling and therapy that are necessary to overcome the addiction for the long term.

About Alcohol Detox

One of the most dangerous substances to detox from is alcohol. During alcohol detox, there is a chance that the patient will become severely sick and could even suffer extreme medical conditions such as seizures, tremors, or a very high fever.

Although there are medications that can help to alleviate many of the withdrawal symptoms that are felt during alcohol detox, the best solution to these symptoms is time, along with medical monitoring to watch for and treat any complications that arise.

Drug and Alcohol Detox Centers Provide the Best Treatment

If an individual is addicted to drugs or alcohol, the best case scenario is to seek help at one of many drug and alcohol detox centers around the country that provide round-the-clock medical monitoring and detox care. In time, the signs and symptoms of withdrawal will be reduced and all signs of physical addiction will be gone.

Once an individual has received proper treatment for the physical dependence that they have on drugs or alcohol, they can begin to be treated for any underlying psychological conditions, previous issues, current mental health problems, or other conditions that may have led them to the addiction.

Find the best drug and alcohol detox centers in the country by browsing the Detox.com directory, or call 800-996-6135 today.

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