The Risks of Quitting Alcohol Cold Turkey

Alcohol is the most commonly used substance in the United States. In any given month, nearly half the US population drinks alcohol at least once. Problematic alcohol consumption—also called alcohol abuse—is almost as common as casual drinking. Nearly 45% of alcohol users binge drink, while 11.7% reported being heavy drinkers. 

Long-term heavy alcohol abuse, whether it’s binge drinking or heavy drinking, carries a risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD), a chronic disease that makes it extremely difficult and, in some cases dangerous, to stop drinking without medical help. 

Even with the potential dangers, many people with AUD try to stop drinking on their own, often because they feel shame or guilt about their condition or because they have yet to admit to their loved ones that they have a problem. When a long-term heavy drinker abruptly stops drinking, it is known as “quitting cold turkey”—and it can cause life-threatening withdrawal symptoms in some people. 

In this article, we’ll answer the most critical questions about quitting alcohol cold turkey and point to safer, more effective options for handling alcohol withdrawal syndrome. 

Alcohol Use Disorder: Physical and Psychological Addiction

Binge drinking and heavy alcohol use can be problematic. However, not everyone who abuses alcohol develops alcohol use disorder. AUD describes a chronic, compulsive pattern of drinking that gets progressively worse as a person continues drinking. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 29.5 million people—10.5% of the population—experienced AUD in the past year.

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition) simplifies the criteria for AUD into one diagnosis with different levels of severity (mild, moderate, or severe). 

Let’s look at some of the physical and psychological signs of AUD. 

Physical signs

• Consuming large quantities of alcohol or drinking for longer periods than intended
• Spending excessive amounts of time drinking or being sick because of your drinking
• Experiencing problems at home, work, or school because of your drinking or because you’re sick from drinking 
• Continuing to drink despite the troubles it causes with your family or friends
• Giving up on activities or hobbies you previously enjoyed because of drinking
• Developing a high tolerance, meaning you need to continually increase your alcohol intake to feel buzzed or drunk
• Experiencing alcohol withdrawal symptoms when you reduce or eliminate alcohol

Psychological signs

• Wanting to cut back or stop drinking but being unable to
• Experiencing alcohol cravings, or wanting a drink so badly that you can’t focus on or think about anything else
• Using alcohol to cope with stress, anxiety, trauma, or other mental health conditions

The Risks of Quitting Cold Turkey

If you’re struggling with long-term alcohol dependency, the realization that your drinking is a problem is a big step towards getting sober. The decision to stop drinking—to eliminate alcohol from your life—is an equally important step. Quitting drinking can improve your short and long-term physical and mental health; it can give you the focus and clear head you need to make critical, positive changes in your life. 

Safely quitting, however, is more complicated than the desire or decision to stop drinking alcohol. Alcohol use disorder is a powerful disease that causes chemical changes in your brain. By removing the substance your brain has come to depend on to function, you can trigger a series of symptoms that are physically and psychologically painful. In some instances, they can even be life-threatening. 

Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:

• Sweating
• Tremors
• Elevated heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Nausea or vomiting

Life-threatening risks of quitting cold turkey

In people with severe alcohol use disorder, withdrawal symptoms can be medically dangerous. Without prompt medical attention, they can lead to death. These symptoms include: 

• Seizures: Alcohol withdrawal can cause grand mal seizures, also known as tonic-clonic seizures, which are characterized by a loss of consciousness followed by violent convulsions. The majority of tonic-clonic seizures occur within the first two days after drinking stops. These seizures can worsen in frequency and severity with repeated episodes of alcohol withdrawal. 
• Delirium tremens: Also known as DTs, delirium tremens are a life-threatening side effect of alcohol withdrawal. DTs are characterized by severe confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, whole-body shaking, vomiting, high blood pressure, and fever. Without prompt medical attention, DTs carry a significant risk of death. 

Safely Detoxing from Alcohol

If you’re struggling with alcohol use disorder, medically supervised detox is the safest and most effective option for quitting drinking. Medical detox provides round-the-clock monitoring of your symptoms and vitals, ensuring that dangerous symptoms are addressed immediately and safely. Detox facilities like Clearview also provide medications and treatment for the physical symptoms of withdrawal that can lead to relapse if you try to quit on your own. 

Long-Term Recovery from Alcohol Use Disorder

Getting sober is only the first step to recovery from alcohol use disorder. Specialized addiction treatment—the kind that addresses the root causes of your drinking—can equip you with coping mechanisms, life skills, and social support to maintain your sobriety and rebuild your life.  

Clearview Treatment Programs provides individualized, intensive treatment for co-occurring alcohol use disorder and mental illness. To learn more about our programs and services, call us or fill out the online form to talk to an admissions specialist today.

References

1. Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2021). Alcohol Use Disorder: A Comparison Between DSM-V and DSM-5.
3. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. (2024). Alcohol Use Disorder: From Risk to Diagnosis to Recovery.
4. Alcohol Health and Research World. (1998). Complications of Alcohol Withdrawal.