How Long Does Drug Detox Take?
How long drug detox takes depends on what substance you're detoxing from.
Timelines by Substance
- Alcohol: 5–7 days
- Heroin / short-acting opioids: 5–10 days
- Fentanyl: 5–10 days (sometimes longer due to its unique half-life)
- Methadone: 10–20+ days
- Benzodiazepines: 10–21 days (slow taper required)
- Cocaine / Meth: 5–10 days (primarily psychological)
Questions about addiction treatment in NYC? Our team is available 24 hours a day. Call (347) 690-4377 — confidential, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does benzo detox take so long?
Benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause seizures, so detox must be done via slow, medically supervised taper — not abrupt cessation.