Is Quitting Alcohol by Going Cold Turkey a Dangerous Approach

If you think you have the power to quit alcohol by going on a cold turkey approach and you are certain of yourself you can do it alone without outside or medical help, you need to understand first all the important and necessary issues regarding this process. By learning the facts and figures, you are not only making sure you are doing the right decision but also increasing the chance of a having a smooth recovery.

Going Cold Turkey - The last DRINK is the LAST!

Quitting alcohol by engaging in a total abstinence from alcohol can jeopardize you, your health in particular. Many experts say that cold turkey is the most effective way of quitting alcohol. In fact, Alcoholics Anonymous’ principle of the Twelve Steps is summarized in this manner. Moreover, a lot of people who have managed to kick the habit will prove to us that going in a state of total self-denial surely bring them to the sober world.

Other experts recommend to us to take it slow and quit alcohol gradually, by basically cutting down the consumption until achieving a controlled drinking pattern. By tapering the amount of alcohol being consumed, we are allowing the body to adjust its system and anticipate alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Understanding the Phrase Cold Turkey

What is cold turkey, anyway? What do they exactly mean when they say “quit alcohol and go cold turkey”?

Going cold turkey simply means that “to come off (hard) alcohol or drugs abruptly, rather than quitting gradually and more easily”. The term was said to originate in the 1930’s to refer to a plain dish, served without frills and ceremony. By analogy, the withdrawal method was the most basic and straightforward. (Dictionary of Idioms and Their Origins, Linda and Roger Flavell, 2004, p. 60)

Cold turkey – instantaneous withdrawal – is the method usually used in jails to take a boy off narcotics. We used it partly because we had no choice; we could not administer the withdrawal drugs they use in hospitals. Bu8t we prefer cold turkey on its own merits, too. The withdrawal is considerably faster; three days as against three weeks. The pain is more intense, but is over sooner. (David Wilkerson, The Cross and the Switchblade, 1963).

go cold turkey - to stop (doing something) without tapering off. Slang. Originally drug slang. Now concerned with breaking any habit. (NTC’s American Idioms Dictionary, Richard A. Spears, Ph. D.)

According to Wikipedia:

There are several explanations of the phrase's origin:

A narrowing of the meaning "suddenly or without preparation," from cold turkey being a dish that requires little preparation; originally used for heroin addicts.

From the American phrase talk turkey meaning "to speak bluntly with little preparation".

Some believe the derivation is from the comparison of a cold turkey carcass and the state of a withdrawing addict — most notably, the cold sweats, goose bumps.

Reference to the periods after Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays where cold (leftover) turkey was likely to be eaten, coinciding with the end of those holidays' characteristically high alcohol consumption.

Is Quitting Alcohol by Going Cold Turkey a Dangerous Approach

Quitting alcohol by means of cold turkey approach means a person will stop drinking and implement complete abstinence. The last drink will be his last, no more next in line. Yes, it is a basic and an easy method yet effective. For some and dangerous for others.

The decision to quit drinking alcohol takes time. An individual who have been drinking heavily and continuously abusing alcohol for a long period of time goes through several stages in his life before realizing the need to quit. He may even deny his drinking problems and make believe he can stop drinking anytime he likes. He will face many painful and negative situations before reaching the decision to give up alcohol. And when he does learn the consequences, cold turkey may be his first resort. So, can his last drink be the really “the ULTIMATE last”?

Alcohol addiction does not happen overnight, it also needs time to develop. The body adjusts to the amount of alcohol being consumed and the drinking pattern as well. With this, the regular use of alcohol can develop into a strong dependency to the substance. The body slowly adapts to the dosage being taken and regular drinking causes the body to be used to its effects so it expects to have the regular amount in order to be satisfied. When the addiction has already into the system, this is when quitting alcohol by going cold turkey becomes dangerous. A person who suddenly stops drinking will have to deal with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. And because of these symptoms, the quitting process becomes risky. This is the reason why I encourage everyone to seek medical help from experts before doing anything.

Quitting cold turkey can put a person’s life at risks especially if he is a chronic drinker because of  alcohol withdrawal symptoms. 

Light to moderate drinkers may not be subjected to experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. And can quit alcohol cold turkey. In fact, it is practical for a light drinker to quit cold turkey because he can quickly recover from the habit. He can also cleanse his system more accurate because there will be no poisonous chemical that will intervene in the procedure. But this does not mean he is not required to go to an alcohol addiction specialist or seek medical advice from doctors. There are others things to be considered. And it is always the best idea to have a doctor on his side to monitor and supervise the quitting process.

Perhaps this situation only makes us realize we have two options when it comes to the correct program or method for quitting alcohol. We can choose to quit alcohol by means of going cold turkey or we can quit drinking gradually. Whichever you prefer, make your quitting a wholesome experience and a safe process by visiting an alcohol addiction expert.