Short answer: the acute phase of detox usually lasts about 3 to 10 days. Alcohol and short-acting opioids tend to be at the shorter end; methadone runs longer. Benzodiazepines are the exception — they need a gradual taper that can take weeks or months. Milder symptoms like poor sleep, low mood and cravings can continue for weeks after the acute phase ends.
How long it takes for you depends mainly on the substance, how much and how long you've been using, and your health. This guide breaks it down by substance, including which withdrawals are dangerous.
Not sure how long your detox will take? Admissions can talk it through with you 24/7.
Detox timelines at a glance
| Substance | Symptoms start | Acute phase lasts | Can it be dangerous? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | 6–24 hours | About 5 days; symptoms often peak around day 3 | Yes seizures and delirium tremens |
| Short-acting opioids (heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone) | 8–24 hours | About 4–10 days | Rarely but overdose risk is high afterward |
| Methadone | 36–48 hours | 2–3 weeks or longer | Rarely but overdose risk is high afterward |
| Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Klonopin, Valium) | 1–2 days (short-acting) to 2–7 days (long-acting) | Weeks to months, managed with a taper | Yes seizures |
| Stimulants (cocaine, meth, Adderall) | Within hours to days | About 1–2 weeks (cocaine) to 2–4 weeks (meth) | Not usually physically; serious mood and suicide risk |
Sources: SAMHSA TIP 45 and TIP 33; StatPearls alcohol withdrawal; WHO withdrawal guidelines. These are typical ranges; individual timelines vary.
Alcohol detox: how long it takes
Alcohol withdrawal usually starts 6 to 24 hours after the last drink. A typical course:
- First day: anxiety, shaking, sweating, nausea, headache, trouble sleeping.
- Days 1–2: the highest risk of seizures, which mostly occur within the first 48 hours.
- Days 2–5: the window for delirium tremens (DTs) — severe confusion, agitation, fever and hallucinations. DTs can begin as early as 48 hours after stopping. They are a medical emergency; untreated, they can be fatal in up to 37% of cases, and even with early treatment the risk isn't zero.
- After about 5 days: acute symptoms usually ease, though sleep and mood can take longer to settle.
Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening for people who drink heavily and stop suddenly. That's why heavy drinkers shouldn't stop cold turkey without medical advice. See the dangers of quitting alcohol cold turkey.
Opioid detox: how long it takes
For heroin, fentanyl and opioid painkillers, withdrawal typically starts within a day of the last dose and the worst of it passes within about a week. Methadone, which stays in the body much longer, starts later and lasts longer — often three weeks or more.
Opioid withdrawal is rarely dangerous by itself, but it is intensely uncomfortable, and medications like buprenorphine make it far more manageable. The biggest risk comes afterward: tolerance drops quickly, so using again at a previous dose can cause an overdose. Our full guide covers opioid withdrawal symptoms and timeline.
Benzodiazepine detox: why it takes longer
Benzodiazepines can't safely be stopped all at once. The FDA's boxed warning notes that stopping them abruptly or reducing the dose too quickly can cause seizures, which can be life-threatening.
Instead, the dose is reduced gradually. Current clinical guidance from ASAM and other medical societies describes reductions of around 5% to 10% every 2 to 4 weeks, and generally no faster than 25% every two weeks. For someone who has taken benzodiazepines for a long time, that can mean months. Inpatient detox handles the early, highest-risk part; the taper often continues afterward. More in our benzodiazepine withdrawal guide.
Stimulant detox: cocaine, meth and Adderall
Stimulant withdrawal is less physical and more psychological. After the initial "crash" come exhaustion, long sleep, increased appetite, low mood and cravings. SAMHSA describes cocaine withdrawal lasting about 1 to 2 weeks, while methamphetamine withdrawal symptoms can last 2 to 4 weeks.
It isn't usually medically dangerous, but depression during stimulant withdrawal can be severe, and SAMHSA notes an intensified suicide risk, especially in the first one to two weeks. See meth withdrawal and the cocaine crash.
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), available 24/7.
What affects how long your detox takes
The substance
The biggest single factor, as the table above shows.
How much and how long
Years of heavy daily use usually means a longer, harder detox than a few months of lighter use.
More than one substance
Alcohol plus benzodiazepines, or opioids plus stimulants, complicates the picture.
Previous withdrawals
People who have been through alcohol withdrawal before can have more severe symptoms each time.
Your health
Liver disease, heart problems, age, pregnancy and mental health conditions all matter.
Symptoms that last after detox
When the acute phase ends, some symptoms can hang on: anxiety, sleep problems, fatigue, trouble concentrating and cravings. SAMHSA calls this protracted withdrawal. After alcohol, some symptoms can persist for months; after benzodiazepines, they can fluctuate for months before gradually easing. It's a normal part of recovery, not a sign that something has gone wrong — but it is a high-risk time for relapse.
Detox is the first step, not the whole treatment
SAMHSA is clear that a detox program is not designed to resolve the longer-term psychological, social and behavioral problems behind substance use. Detox gets you physically stable. Treatment is where you work on why you drank or used, and how to stay stopped.
At Tru Dallas Detox, most people move straight from medical detox into residential treatment. If outpatient care suits you better afterward, our team can help arrange a referral.
Ready to start detox? Our admissions team answers 24/7 and can usually tell you on the call what your stay would look like.
Frequently asked questions
How long does drug detox take?
Most drug detoxes take about 3 to 10 days for the acute phase. Benzodiazepines take longer because they need a gradual taper, and methadone withdrawal can last several weeks.
What is the hardest day of detox?
For alcohol and short-acting opioids, symptoms usually peak within the first two to three days. For methadone and benzodiazepines, the peak comes later.
Can you speed up detox?
Not safely. There's no way to make the body clear a drug meaningfully faster, and trying to rush a benzodiazepine or alcohol detox is dangerous. Medical detox makes the process safer and more comfortable, not shorter.
Is 3 days enough to detox?
Occasionally, for light use of a short-acting drug. For most people, acute withdrawal lasts longer than that, and alcohol's most dangerous window (days 2–5) falls right around day three.
Do I need to detox in a facility?
If you drink heavily, take benzodiazepines, use more than one substance, or have had seizures or severe withdrawal before, yes — medical supervision is strongly recommended.
Last updated: September 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice.
