One of the most common questions people have about detox is how long it takes. The honest answer is: it depends on what substance is involved, how long and how much someone has been using, their overall health, and whether they’re using medication-assisted treatment.
Here is what the typical timeline looks like for the most common substances.
Alcohol: 5–10 Days
For most people, the acute phase of alcohol withdrawal lasts five to seven days. The first forty-eight to seventy-two hours are the most medically intense, with the highest risk of seizures and complications. By day five to seven, most people feel substantially better physically. Some people experience protracted symptoms, anxiety, sleep problems, for weeks or months.
For a full breakdown of the alcohol withdrawal timeline hour by hour, see how long alcohol detox actually takes.
Questions about alcohol detox timeline for your situation?
A call can give you a more specific sense of what to expect based on individual history. No commitment required.
Short-Acting Opioids (Heroin, Oxycodone): 5–7 Days
Acute withdrawal from short-acting opioids typically peaks at twenty-four to forty-eight hours and begins to resolve substantially by days five to seven. Post-acute withdrawal symptoms, mood, sleep, cravings, can persist for weeks to months, and this ongoing period is when relapse risk is highest.
Long-Acting Opioids (Methadone): 2–3 Weeks
Because methadone has a very long half-life, withdrawal onset is delayed (up to forty-eight hours) and the acute phase is significantly longer, often two to three weeks. Transitioning from methadone to buprenorphine or completing a medically supervised taper are common approaches.
Fentanyl: Variable
Fentanyl’s lipophilic properties make the timeline less predictable than other opioids. Withdrawal onset may be delayed, and symptoms can fluctuate as stored fentanyl releases. Medically supervised detox with close monitoring is especially important for fentanyl.
Benzodiazepines: 2–4 Weeks (Longer for Protracted Cases)
Benzo detox using a supervised taper is typically completed over two to four weeks for moderate dependency. Long-term, high-dose use may require a taper lasting several months. Protracted benzo withdrawal syndrome can persist much longer in some individuals.
Not sure how long detox would take for your situation?
A call can help you understand the timeline based on your specific substance use history, including what medications might shorten the acute phase.
Methamphetamine: 1–2 Weeks (Acute Phase)
The acute physical withdrawal from meth is relatively short, one to two weeks. However, the psychological withdrawal, depression, anhedonia, cravings, can persist for months as the brain’s dopamine system recovers.
What Affects the Timeline
Beyond the substance itself, several factors affect how long detox takes: the duration and amount of use, overall physical health and age, concurrent use of multiple substances, and whether medication-assisted treatment is used. MAT for opioids, in particular, can dramatically reduce the intensity and duration of acute withdrawal.