To stop taking drugs safely, start by working out whether your body has become dependent, because some drugs (sleeping pills, Erimin 5, heroin and other opioids, and alcohol if you drink heavily too) should not be stopped suddenly without a doctor. Then make a written plan for your triggers and cravings, tell someone you trust, and get support, whether that is a clinic, AADK's voluntary route or a residential programme.
This guide walks through each step, what to expect in the first weeks, and what to do if you slip.
Step 1: Check whether it is safe to stop suddenly
Ireland's health service, the HSE, puts it plainly: if you have become dependent, it is not safe to suddenly stop some drugs. It names opioids, benzodiazepines and z-drug sleeping pills, gabapentin, pregabalin and GHB. With these, a doctor or drug service can plan a slow reduction and may offer medicine for withdrawal.
In Malaysia that list covers the drugs families see most often after syabu and ketum:
- Heroin, codeine cough syrup and other opioids. Withdrawal is very uncomfortable. MedlinePlus says it is not usually life threatening in itself, but it is hard to get through alone, and people often go back to using to make it stop.
- Sleeping pills and Erimin 5. Stopping suddenly after heavy use can cause seizures. See our guide to sleeping pills and cough syrup misuse.
- Alcohol, if you drink heavily alongside drugs. Alcohol withdrawal can also be dangerous; read alcohol withdrawal before cutting down.
For other drugs, such as syabu, pil kuda, ganja or ketamine, our guide to drug withdrawal symptoms explains what each drug's withdrawal looks like and when to call 999.
Step 2: Be clear about why you want to stop
The HSE suggests thinking honestly about what you like and dislike about using, and what would get better if you stopped: sleep, money, your family, your job, your health. Write the reasons down. On a bad day, a list in your own words is more useful than willpower.
Decide too whether you are stopping completely or cutting down first. For dependence on the drugs in Step 1, that decision belongs with a doctor.
Step 3: Learn your triggers
Triggers are the things that remind you of using. The UK charity We Are With You describes two kinds: outside ones, such as certain people, places, objects or a time of day or week, and inside ones, such as moods and physical feelings. Payday, a particular friend's car, a fight at home, or simply being bored at night can all set off a craving.
Two simple ways to find yours:
- Write a list of what usually happens just before you use.
- Keep a cravings diary for a few weeks: the time, where you were, who you were with, how you felt, and what you did next. The HSE recommends a diary like this to spot patterns.
Then, for each trigger, the HSE suggests writing about three ways to avoid using. That might mean taking a different route home, deleting a contact, not carrying cash, or having someone with you on Friday nights for the first few weeks.
Step 4: Plan for cravings
Cravings are normal, and they pass. The HSE notes that each craving only lasts a few minutes, and suggests delaying for 30 minutes rather than deciding there and then. In that time:
- Leave the place you are in, even for a walk
- Call or message someone on your list
- Eat, drink water or rest, if you are hungry or tired
- Remind yourself of the reasons you wrote down
We Are With You points out that hunger, tiredness, loneliness and boredom often sit behind a craving. Meeting those needs another way takes some of the pull out of it.
Step 5: Clear the supply and tell someone
Throw away what you have left, along with the things you use with. Stop the routes you use to get more. Then tell one person you trust what you are doing. The HSE suggests having someone with you early on, and it is easier to get through the first weeks when one person knows.
If you live with family, our guide on how to talk to someone about getting help may help you start that conversation.
Step 6: Get treatment as well as willpower
NIDA, the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, says addiction is treatable, and that detox on its own is not enough. What helps depends on the drug:
- Opioids such as heroin or codeine. NIDA says medicine should be the first treatment, usually with counselling. The NHS names methadone and buprenorphine. Both are used in Malaysia; see methadone and Suboxone.
- Syabu, pil kuda and ganja. There is no approved medicine, so NIDA says treatment relies on talking and behavioural therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), contingency management and family therapy. See our guides to syabu and ganja.
- Ketum. Our guide on how to stop ketum covers it step by step.
The NHS also mentions support groups such as Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery, which many people find useful alongside treatment.
Can you stop using drugs without rehab?
Many people can. The HSE says most people who stop do not need residential treatment, and that the right support depends on your needs and the drugs you use. A doctor, a clinic, counselling and a good plan are enough for a lot of people.
Residential rehab is worth thinking about when you have tried to stop at home and could not, when everyone around you still uses, when you need medical help through withdrawal, or when depression, anxiety or psychosis is tangled up with the drug use. Our guide to how much rehab costs in Malaysia and the drug rehabilitation centre in Malaysia page explain the options, from free government routes to private care.
What to do if you slip
A slip is not the end. The HSE says a slip does not mean failure: work out what led to it, be kind to yourself, go back to your reasons, stay away from high-risk situations for a while, and get more support.
NIDA makes the same point about relapse in general. It says relapse rates for drug addiction, about 40 to 60%, are similar to those for other long-term conditions such as high blood pressure and asthma, and that relapse does not mean treatment has failed. It means the plan needs changing. Read more in our guide to relapse after rehab.
One serious warning. After even a short break, your tolerance drops. The HSE and MedlinePlus both warn that going back to the amount you used to take can cause an overdose; MedlinePlus says most opioid overdose deaths happen in people who have just come through detox. If someone is very drowsy, hard to wake or breathing slowly, call 999.
Where to get help in Malaysia
- A doctor or government health clinic. The NHS says a GP is a good place to start. In Malaysia, CodeBlue reported that the Health Ministry has run one-stop addiction centres (OSCA) at government health clinics since 2017.
- AADK, on a voluntary basis. Bernama reported in October 2026 that since the amended Act 283 took effect in August 2025, about 232 people a month have come forward to AADK for voluntary treatment, up from 75 before. Most were treated in the community rather than at a PUSPEN, and the Home Minister said voluntary clients will not have a criminal record. Our guide to voluntary drug rehab in Malaysia explains how it works.
- Private residential care. Salus is a voluntary residential recovery retreat in Cyberjaya for adults 18 and over. Treatment runs for 90 days, alongside medical care, with a Salus Clinician. It costs from RM7,000 a month; medication, deposits, medically supervised detox and any transfer to a psychiatric facility are charged separately. Read more about our addiction rehab centre in Malaysia.
If you are reading this for someone else, our guide on how to help someone with drug addiction is written for families, and signs of drug use helps if you are not sure yet.
Questions people ask
How do I stop taking drugs and alcohol at the same time?
See a doctor first. Stopping heavy drinking suddenly can be dangerous on its own, and alcohol is also a common trigger for drug use, so the two are best planned together. Our guide on how to stop drinking alcohol covers the alcohol side.
How long do cravings last?
Each craving usually passes within minutes, according to the HSE. We Are With You advises expecting cravings from time to time and being ready for them, including triggers that turn up without warning, so keep your plan even when things are going well.
Can I stop on my own at home?
For some drugs and some people, yes, with a plan and support. If you take opioids, sleeping pills or Erimin 5, or drink heavily, talk to a doctor before you stop.
Will going to AADK give me a criminal record?
Not if you come forward voluntarily. The Home Minister said in October 2026, as reported by Bernama, that voluntary clients will not have a criminal record under the amended Act 283.
Talk to us
If you have tried to stop and keep ending up back where you started, that is common, and it is not a sign you cannot do it. Contact us for a free, confidential conversation about what would help, whether that is with us or somewhere else.
