If you’ve been using a drug regularly, stopping or cutting down can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal can be a very unpleasant experience and, depending on the drug, could be life threatening. The severity of effects from withdrawal can be very different depending on the drug.
Most people will experience mild withdrawal symptoms that pass after a few days. If you’ve been using higher amounts or for longer periods of time, you might experience more unpleasant symptoms. These can last from one week to a few months depending on what you were using.
This image shows common withdrawal symptoms, and when to call for help.
These are some drugs that can be dangerous and potentially fatal to suddenly stop using if you’ve been using them regularly for a long time:
- Alcohol
- Benzodiazepines
- GHB, GBL and 1,4 BD
- Opioids (Heroin, morphine, oxycodone)
- Some prescription medications
If you are using any of these drugs regularly, make sure you see a Health Professional for help tapering off safely.
These drugs are unpleasant to withdrawal from, but can be done on your own at home:
- Methamphetamine
- Cocaine
- Nicotine (Vapes, cigarettes)
- Synthetic Cannabinoids
- Some prescription medications
Visit our withdrawal page for more information on how to manage withdrawal and to download workbooks to help you prepare.