There are several ways of speeding up the process of drug detoxification. The best way to do this is to stop using the substance completely. But for some, this can be extremely challenging.
Drug detox kits, especially the ones readily available in the market, can’t help you “detox” to quit drug or alcohol addiction. Generally, they are only used to pass a drug test in a short span of time. Using these kits won’t help you skip the withdrawal process of quitting the substance. But there are other ways that can help.
How long substances stay detectable in your body
Although the body naturally removes traces of drugs and alcohol from the system, there are several factors that can affect this process. This depends on how long a person has been taking the drug and the amount that they take regularly.
Using the substance will reset the detoxification process, so the best way to clear it from your body is to stop taking the drug for a period of time. The table below shows how long some drugs will usually stay detectable in the body.
| Drug | Detectable in Urine | Detectable in Hair |
| Marijuana | Moderate use: 1-10 days
Chronic use: Up to 30 days |
90 days |
| Opioids | 1-3 days | 90 days |
| Cocaine | 1-3 days | 90 days |
| Alcohol | 12-24 hours | 90 days |
| Benzodiazepines | Therapeutic use: 3-7 days
Chronic use: 30 days |
Difficult to determine |
Some factors that can also affect this process are:
- Body mass
- Medical conditions
- Sex
- Other substances in the system, including prescription drugs
- Hydration levels
Detox Kits on the Market
There’s no safe way to ensure that you pass a drug test while the substance remains in your body. You can buy some products legally online, usually in the form of drinks or pills, that can help flush out the drug from your system. However, there’s no absolute guarantee that this will work. Not much research has been done on this topic so it is difficult to determine the exact effectiveness of these products.
Although purchasing them is generally legal, keep in mind that if you use them to cheat a drug test, you could end up facing legal consequences. It is best to do research on your local laws or talk to a lawyer before proceeding down this route. Depending on your location, most medical practitioners, lawmakers, and law enforcers ignore these kits unless they are important to a case. But it’s better to be safe than sorry.
It is also worth noting that these kits won’t help you quickly overcome the withdrawal stage of quitting substance abuse. The poor quality of some products can be unreliable and may even cause health complications in some serious cases.
Home Remedies for Detox
The best remedy for detoxifying is time. Your body will naturally process the substances and flush them out of your system. There’s no home remedy that can help you sober up faster than quitting the substance entirely.
A lot of people believe that drinking coffee or taking cold showers is the best home remedy to sober up, but this could not be further from the truth. In fact, taking a cold shower while intoxicated can lead to several health problems.
Food intake after drinking can slow down the spread of alcohol in your body, but it’s better to eat something before the person becomes completely drunk.
Sleeping off drugs or alcohol should be avoided at all costs. People under the influence of a substance may suffocate or choke on their vomit if they sleep and this could result in their untimely death.
Immediately call 9-1-1 someone is no longer responding due to a substance. Medical professionals will administer different kinds of treatments and medication to curb an overdose.
Getting Through Withdrawal
If you wish to quit a substance and are looking for something to help you through the withdrawal process, detox kits won’t effectively do much. Withdrawal can be very difficult, and can even have serious health repercussions if not treated correctly. That is why it’s best to consult a medical professional before you stop taking a drug completely.
The symptoms and possible treatment for withdrawal of common drugs and substances are listed below:
Marijuana
Marijuana’s addictiveness is debatable, but the withdrawal symptoms are not severe. Some symptoms may include diminished appetite, mood changes, irritability, insomnia, headaches, loss of focus, cravings for marijuana, sweating, chills, depression, and stomach problems. If quitting poses a serious problem, it’s best to consult a medical specialist or join a program for beating the addiction.
Opioids
The symptoms from quitting opioids depend on the usual amount of opioids one takes, but are not life-threatening. Withdrawal can cause discomfort, persistent aching, agitation, insomnia, sweating, tearing, and anxiety. It may also cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, cramping, goosebumps, and dilated pupils. It is best to get help from a rehabilitation center since quitting on one’s own may likely lead to relapse and increased substance usage resulting in an overdose, or even death.
Cocaine
Symptoms of withdrawal include agitation, restlessness, fatigue, strange and unpleasant dreams, an increase in appetite, and depression. People suffering from cocaine addiction may actively look for the drug without regard for their safety and security, and this may often lead to depression and suicidal thoughts. In this case, getting professional help is the best course of action.
Alcohol
Withdrawal from alcohol is very difficult, especially since alcoholic drinks are legally available for everyone. Symptoms include anxiety, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, sweating, and even hallucination in serious cases. Heavy drinkers should seek professional help first before quitting drinking completely, since cutting off immediately can lead to health complications and can be life-threatening.
Benzodiazepines
The duration of withdrawal from “benzos” is unpredictable since it can end almost immediately after quitting or it can take weeks after minimal symptoms. These include muscle pain, nausea, and dry retching, weight loss, stiffness, anxiety, perceptual changes, and even seizures and psychotic breaks in severe cases. People suffering from benzos addiction should talk to specialists before quitting, since doctors may gradually reduce dosage based on the patient’s needs. Like alcohol, it can be life-threatening to quit immediately, so always consult a doctor before proceeding.
Recovery
The road to recovery is different for every person suffering from addiction. Any program claiming to have the best treatment should be taken with a grain of salt since no specific approach will work on everyone. This naturally depends on the severity of the addiction and the amount of substance taken regularly.
Keep in mind that detoxification is only the first step to recovery. Underlying personal issues that began the addiction must be addressed to avoid relapse. Returning to drug abuse after a long time without it could cause more complications than there was at the initial onset of the addiction.
The Bottom Line
Some detox kits won’t work for you and this can lead to financial loss and even health problems for some. The best way to detoxify is to quit the drugs entirely. If this is the route you want to take, it’s best to look for professional help and drug treatment programs to facilitate your recovery. The road to sobriety is a difficult journey to start, but your new life ahead is worth all the struggles and challenges you will endure.
Here at Roots Through Recovery, we want to help you recover from drug addiction. We want you to have choices that will give you and your loved ones the best outcomes. If you or your loved one needs immediate help, take the first step of calling us at 866-766-8776.
