5 Reasons You Should Not Do an At-Home Detox from Alcohol or Drugs
If you have recently decided to take a step toward recovery by detoxing from drugs or alcohol, you may be considering doing this at home. While taking this step is great, an at-home detox might not be the best option to choose.
Keep in mind that you want to have the highest quality of care possible to achieve the most efficient, safe, and successful detox. If you are looking for this type of care, call 800-996-6135 to speak with a specialist about your situation.
As you weigh your options, consider the following reasons to avoid at-home detox.
1. Too Many Temptations
With any detox and recovery process, you are going to face triggers and cravings. During these times, you may not always think reasonably, and you could be tempted to return to substance abuse. Relapse, especially when detoxing at home, is always a danger.
When you’re in your home environment, you may be surrounded by tempting situations to relapse. You may not have sufficient motivation to see past your cravings or the proper support to overcome them. A professional detox program removes you from this tempting environment, away from relapse triggers.
Contact us now to find detox centers in your area!
2. Lack of Support

Many people lack support when they detox at home.
Professional detox treatment gives you access to support systems that can hold you accountable during the process and throughout your recovery. This support in recovery is essential for long-term success.
Examples include:
- Support groups
- Therapists
- Sponsors
- Family
- Friends
Not only is this community important to keep you motivated, but it can also help you learn ways to cope with triggers, either through counseling sessions or by learning through other people’s successful recovery stories. Having adequate support keeps you on the right track and gives you the boost you need to overcome challenges.
3. Lack of Quality
With at-home detox, the success and quality of the detox process is solely your responsibility, and quality can make all the difference in your recovery. When doing it at home, you lack access to the best approaches and options. You do not have the experience or the knowledge necessary to respond with the same efficiency as a professional to certain detox issues.
Working with a professional for your detox is like exterminating your home. If the infestation is the addiction, then extermination is the detox process. You want to make sure that it is completely gone from your home—or your body, in this case—without causing any more damage. You can’t guarantee that on your own, but a professional can.
4. Risk to Your Health and Safety
Detox comes with withdrawal symptoms and other health problems that can pose negative issues as your body heals. Completing detox at-home, without any assistance from others or medical professionals, places you in an unsafe situation.
Detox puts your body into withdrawal, and some drugs, like alcohol or depressants, can have severe withdrawal complications. Cardiac and respiratory distress are common complications resulting from general drug detox, and many people are not properly trained to correctly respond when they occur. Other dangerous complications can include:
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Hallucinations
- Grand mal seizures
You have chosen to detox in order to restore your health, but your health could be at risk if you detox at home and experience severe withdrawal symptoms. It is always wise to make sure that somebody knows what you are doing and can be around to help you if needed.
5. Lack of Sustainability
A primary goal of your recovery should be ensuring abstinence in the long run. Achieving a sustainable recovery can be a challenging process, and at-home detoxes may not prepare you for the challenges you will face on the road ahead.
A professional will recognize cravings and triggers during the detox process and train you to cope successfully with them. Not knowing how to properly deal with these and any residual effects of your drug use can cause a relapse, even during detox.
Quality Detox Options
If you or a loved one is looking into recovery options, call 800-996-6135 to speak with a specialist about any questions or concerns you may have. You are not alone in this, and you deserve quality care to help you achieve full recovery.