Most drug addicts who want to quit drugs are not able to do so because of the severe withdrawal symptoms they suffer when they try to stop using the drug. An addict suffers from severe withdrawal symptoms as well as craving when he or she stops taking the drug. So, it is important for the family and friends of the addict to understand the withdrawal symptoms of the addict so they can help and support them through this hard phase.
Though drug withdrawal symptoms might not be life threatening, the addict is subjected to physical and mental disturbances that could force the addict to resort to taking drugs again. There is no specific rule as to what kind of withdrawals an addict might go through. That is entirely dependent on the type of drugs used by the person and on the intensity of addiction. For example, a person who has been using marijuana will have lesser and milder withdrawal symptoms than a person who has been using heroin or crack.
Withdrawal symptoms can be anything from runny nose and eyes to severe body pain and vomiting, but it is the deep craving inside the minds of the addicts that is more dangerous. An addict can be easily tempted to use drugs again because of the severe withdrawal symptoms or because of the desire to get the feeling of euphoria again. Detoxifying makes the withdrawal process easy for the addict as all signs of the harmful chemicals are flushed out of the body. The craving imprinted on the memory of the addict is also lessened because once the chemicals start leaving the body, the withdrawal symptoms disappear and their severity lessens. However, the bigger role of managing the mental craving and eliminating it will be done by effective counseling and by making the addict able to face the world without the aid of any drugs.