Spice Withdrawal and Detox

Spice Info

• Spice Addiction and Abuse
• Spice Symptoms and Warning Signs
• Spice Treatment and Rehab
• Spice Withdrawal and Detox

Spice, or Synthetic Cannabis, is a man-made substance that is designed to mimic marijuana’s natural THC-effects. But, unlike marijuana, Spice doesn’t always actually contain THC, and can be highly physically addictive.

Spice is commonly marketed as “not intended for human consumption”. Adding such to the packaging makes Spice not subject to drug regulations, and because the manufacturing of Spice isn’t subject to any regulation, a variety of highly potent, and even toxic, chemicals and additives may be found in different batches of the product.

Spice is usually less expensive than other recreational drugs, and this makes it an attractive option among young people looking to get “high”. The drug can be purchased in-store or even online. However, due to the lack of consistency and regulation in the manufacturing of Spice, there is no safe way to use the drug, as you can never be sure what a particular batch is composed of. Composition may vary, even within the same batch. This makes it difficult to determine how your body will react after consuming a particular batch.

Simply put, consuming Spice can pose some serious health risks, and the most dangerous of these health risks is addiction. Once you develop an addiction to Spice, stopping use of the drug becomes difficult without a medically assisted detox, because of the withdrawal symptoms that will manifest. If, after addiction occurs, you keep abusing Spice, you will expose yourself to a variety of health risks and side effects which can be very serious.

The side effects of continued abuse of Spice may include seizures, stroke, chest pain, vomiting, kidney damage, psychosis, paranoia, impaired cognition, agitation, aggressive behaviour, cardiac disturbance, or even death.

Spice Withdrawal – What Is It?

According to the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse), Spice is a mind-altering substance that can be smoked or vaporized and then inhaled via an e-cigarette.

Many people are under the false impression that Spice is harmless, but, in actuality, frequent use of Spice over a period of time can lead to physical dependence. If you stop taking Spice in such a scenario, you will likely experience withdrawal symptoms, which can range from uncomfortable to painful in their severity.

Spice is typically made up of a mix of synthetic cannabinoids that have been produced from dried plants. The effects of Spice can be likened to that of natural marijuana, but are far more potent and less predictable. Also, unlike marijuana, smoking Spice can trigger some very serious mental and physical side effects.

Physical dependence to Spice occurs when your body adapts to the presence and influence of the drug in your system, and, thus, requires frequent doses of the drug in order to function normally. If you have developed a physical dependence on Spice, you are likely to experience withdrawal syndrome if you lessen your dose of the drug, or attempt to stop using it altogether.

Generally, once dependence on Spice has developed, withdrawal symptoms can manifest within mere hours of your last dose of the drug, and can last for as long as weeks.

The Causes of Spice Withdrawal

More often than not, if a person has developed a physical dependence on a drug such as Spice, they will experience withdrawal symptoms if use of the drug is suddenly stopped. Dependence is different from addiction, but it can occur alongside addiction, which is why the two terms are often used interchangeably.

If you regularly abuse Spice for an extended period of time, you will eventually need to consume more of the drug to achieve the desired effects. This is because constant abuse of Spice will lead to a build-up of your tolerance to the drug, and this will result in you being unable to achieve the desired effects of smoking Spice at the dose you initially started with. Build-up of your tolerance to Spice is usually a sign of developing physical dependence.

If you suddenly stop using Spice, or you try to cut back on your dose after you have developed a dependence, this can destabilise your system. The sudden change in your system will cause your body to react by exhibiting potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms, which may be physical, emotional, or psychological in nature.

Cases of Spice withdrawal are often reported when an individual’s abuse of the drug is heavy and regular.

Spice Withdrawal Timeline

So far, there is no clearly defined Spice withdrawal timeline. But, based on recorded incidents, withdrawal effects typically occur rather rapidly, and peak within four to seven days. Said withdrawal effects may continue for as long as thirty days before passing.

Severe withdrawal symptoms are usually rare, while milder withdrawal symptoms, that are similar to that of heavy marijuana use, are quite common. But the case isn’t the same for everyone because of the unpredictability of the components in each Spice batch. People who have used Spice for only a few days have reported experiencing withdrawal symptoms after stopping use of the drug.

Depending on your physiology, and the Spice batch being abused, withdrawal symptoms can begin to manifest within hours or days after your last dose of it. The initial withdrawal symptoms are usually mild, but will peak and become more severe four to seven days after initial withdrawal symptoms. Physical withdrawal symptoms may go on for two to three weeks, while mental or psychological symptoms may continue for much longer.

Below is a general timeline outlining the appearance of common Spice withdrawal symptoms.

Below is a general timeline outlining the appearance of common Spice withdrawal symptoms.

0-72 hours after quitting Spice

First week of Spice Withdrawals

Second week of Spice Withdrawals

Third week of Spice Withdrawals

Fourth week of Spice Withdrawal:

Keep in mind that how Spice withdrawal is experienced typically varies from individual to individual.

Spice Withdrawal Symptoms and Effects

Your experience when it comes to Spice withdrawal symptoms will likely differ from that of other individuals. This is because factors, such as how long you have been abusing Spice, your physiology, and existence of a co-occurring disorder, will all influence your withdrawal. But because Spice withdrawal symptoms can be unpredictable in their severity, it is best to have your withdrawals managed by a medically assisted detox.

The Symptoms of Spice Withdrawal

Spice withdrawal symptoms can be physical and/or psychological in nature. Psychological symptoms usually last longer than physical ones. However, if you are under the care of a specialised addiction treatment clinic, your withdrawal symptoms can be greatly minimised with proper treatment and medication.

Physical Symptoms of Spice Withdrawal

Spice withdrawal symptoms you may experience include:

Psychological Symptoms of Spice Withdrawal

Because Spice use affects activity in your central nervous system, it can lead to changes in your brain that will give rise to psychological withdrawal symptoms if you try to quit abusing the drug. Commonly experienced psychological Spice withdrawal symptoms include:

Keep in mind that all withdrawal symptoms are temporary. The discomfort and pain of withdrawal may seem unbearable at first, but it will only last for a while, after which you can move on to enjoy an addiction free life. And, with proper treatment, the severity of your withdrawal symptoms can be greatly minimised.

The Effects of Spice Withdrawal

If you abuse Spice to experience a “high”, keep in mind that use of the drug also comes with a variety of side effects. Some commonly reported effects of abusing the drug include:

Spice Detoxification

Detoxification is the first, and most crucial, step to making a full recovery from your Spice addiction. But, the process can be painful and uncomfortable, which is why many recovering addicts who try to detox on their own end up relapsing before they can complete a full detox. Commonly, a tapering process is recommended to minimise the severity of withdrawal symptoms during detoxification.

The process of tapering your Spice dose will involve gradually reducing how much of the drug you use over a predetermined period of time, until you are completely weaned off it. You may also be provided medication during detox to ease your withdrawal symptoms.

If your Spice addiction is severe, we recommend that an inpatient detox facility be used for your treatment. An outpatient treatment facility is better suited to patients with a milder addiction, who will likely experience less severe withdrawal symptoms. But, there is also the option of combining inpatient treatment with outpatient treatment. For instance, you can use an inpatient facility during the initial, and more crucial, stages of detox and then progress to outpatient treatment towards the end.

Spice Abuse Detox Process

Spice abuse detox will typically start off with the following 3 steps:

• Evaluation: This involves a comprehensive assessment of your condition from a social, psychological, and medical point of view. Screening and testing will also be done to identify any medical or mental conditions you may have, as well as what addictive substances are presently in your system.
• Stabilization: This involves the management of your withdrawal symptoms through counselling and administering of medication. Such treatment is often tailored to match your specific condition and needs.
• Facilitating ongoing treatment: This will help you understand that detox is just the beginning of your recovery process, and continued treatment is needed to minimise chances of a relapse.

Spice Detoxification Timeline

Suddenly quitting Spice will likely lead to the sudden emergence of withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms will pass with time, while others (especially the psychological ones), may linger for a bit longer. For instance, intense cravings will start within hours of quitting and can continue for the entire duration of your detoxification.

How long Spice detoxification will last typically varies from person to person. But, generally, detoxification may go on for weeks or longer. Certain medication may also reduce how long detoxification lasts, as well as minimise withdrawal symptoms experienced during the process.

Several types of treatment for Spice withdrawal and addiction are available, and you have a diverse range of addiction clinics throughout the country and abroad, that can provide the level of care and support you need. Some of the more commonly used treatment options include:

• Detox. Detox centres can help you through the acute stages of substance withdrawal. During the programme, you’ll be monitored and cared for around the clock, while being provided medical and psychiatric attention. Continued care, such as ongoing substance abuse therapy, can be received at another facility once detox is complete.
• Outpatient withdrawal treatment. An outpatient programme can be immensely helpful with both long and short-term recovery efforts. Many people prefer outpatient programmes because they get to return home every day once treatment for the day is completed. However, an outpatient programme is best suited for recovering addicts whose withdrawal symptoms aren’t that severe, and who don’t require round the clock medical supervision.
• Inpatient programm This is the most effective treatment programme for individuals with a severe addiction, as you’ll be cared for in a controlled environment where stressors and triggers that normally influence you to abuse drugs, will be absent. You’ll also have access to 24/7 medical care to help manage your withdrawal symptoms and general wellbeing. Treatment will occur in a live-in treatment facility, where you’ll attend therapy groups, individual counselling, 12-step meetings, and participate in a variety of healthy recovery activities.
• Partial hospitalization programmes. This is a form of outpatient treatment that provides medical support and therapy for the duration of your treatment programme.
• Dual diagnosis programmes. These are meant for addicts who may have a co-occurring mental disorder alongside their addiction issues. For such individuals, it is best if the co-occurring mental disorder is treated alongside the Spice addiction, in order to guarantee a full recovery, as well as reduce chances of a possible relapse.
• 12-step programmes. An example of such is Narcotics Anonymous, which offers peer support and helps prevent relapse. These programmes may benefit a recovering addict during treatment, as well as after treatment, as part of their aftercare treatment.

Finding The Right Treatment for Spice Addiction

An inpatient addiction treatment programme that provides a medically supervised detoxification will help you beat your addiction with as much comfort as possible.

Further treatment may consist of:

• Outpatient Care, which will include regular counselling, relapse prevention skills, and addiction education, as part of your treatment can be used to take care of your addiction. But, unlike with inpatient care, you can live at home for the duration of your outpatient treatment.
• Inpatient Care will require you to live at the treatment facility for the duration of your treatment. It’s an ideal option if your addiction, and resulting withdrawal symptoms, are severe and if you would like to make a quick recovery.

You can also take advantage of support and continuing therapy in the form of aftercare, once your initial treatment has been completed. Aftercare may be undertaken in the form of psychotherapy (counselling or cognitive-behavioural therapy), or Contingency Management (an incentive-based means of motivating recovery and abstinence).

At the end of the day, what makes for the right treatment for your condition ultimately depends on your needs and preferences.

Find The Best Residential Spice Recovery Centre

When seeking the best Spice recovery centre, it is important to know what your actual needs are, so you can get professional assistance that can actually care for them. To pick the right recovery centre for you, you need to take the following into consideration:

• Would you prefer an inpatient or outpatient setting?
• Would you like to receive addiction treatment close to home or abroad?
• Would you prefer to continue working while receiving treatment?
• Will your insurance cover the cost of treatment?
• Is the treatment programme affordable?
• Does the treatment facility have experience helping people with your unique type of addiction?

Keep in mind that Spice addiction doesn’t have to be a burden you bear alone. Professional help is just a phone call away when you call a confidential addiction helpline.

Self-Detoxification From Spice

Specific reasons why a Spice self-detox could be harmful include:

• Inconsistency of symptoms: Withdrawal symptoms can unpredictably fluctuate, leaving you overwhelmed and vulnerable to health dangers.
• Self-medication during withdrawal can do more harm than good, as you might end up abusing other drugs and substances in an unhealthy manner to help yourself cope.
• Risk of relapse is greatly increased during a self-detox, as there’s no one to stop you from indulging your cravings.

For the sake of your safety, and in order to achieve long-lasting recovery, it is recommended you complete a Spice detox under the supervision of a doctor.

Ready For Help for Spice Addiction?

With the help of addiction specialists, Spice addiction doesn’t have to be a life sentence. The path to sobriety and good health is right in front of you, and you can get started on that path today. There are Spice addiction treatment centres in (and outside) the UK, and you can easily find the one that offers the help you need, at a price that’s within your budget.

Get Answers To Your Questions Regarding Spice Addiction

Call a confidential addiction helpline today for a no-obligation conversation to discover more. The sooner you get addiction treatment, the better for you and your loved ones.

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