"Cold turkey" is a slang expression describing the actions of a person who gives up a habit or addiction all at once. That is, rather than gradually easing the process through reduction or by using supplemental or replacement medication). This is, of course, the cheapest method of quitting any habit, and its supposed advantage is that by not actively using supplemental methods, the person avoids thinking about the habit and therefore, the temptation. Addiction is a chronic or recurrent condition proposed to be precipitated by one or more of the following: genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors. ... Oral medication A medication is any drug taken to cure or reduce the symptoms of an illness or ongoing medical condition. ...

The etymology derives from the phrase talk turkey, in which someone deals matter-of-factly with a subject^[1]. Some, however, believe the derivation is from the comparison of a cold turkey carcass and the state of a withdrawing addict — most notably, the cold sweats and goose bumps. It is often preceded by the verb "to go," as in "going cold turkey." Goose bumps on a human Goose bumps (AE), also called goose pimples, goose flesh (BE), chill bumps, chicken skin (Hawaiian Pidgin), or the medical term cutis anserina, are the bumps on a persons skin at the base of body hairs which involuntarily develop when a person is cold or...

Sudden withdrawal from drugs such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates can be extremely dangerous, leading to potentially fatal seizures. In long-time alcoholics, going cold turkey can cause life-threatening delirium tremens and thus is not an appropriate method for breaking an alcohol addiction. Withdrawal, also known as withdrawal syndrome, refers to the characteristic signs and symptoms that appear when a drug that causes physical dependence is regularly used for a long time and then suddenly discontinued or decreased in dosage. ... Benzodiazepine tablets The benzodiazepines are a class of drugs with hypnotic, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, amnestic and muscle relaxant properties. ... Barbiturates are drugs that act as central nervous system (CNS) depressants, and by virtue of this they produce a wide spectrum of effects, from mild sedation to anesthesia. ... Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... For the beer, see Delirium Tremens (beer). ...

Some say that nicotine cessation can be the most difficult form of cold turkey, more difficult than even heroin or cocaine. [1] Others, including most long-term ex-smokers, contend that abrupt nicotine cessation is the easiest and most effective method of quitting smoking tobacco. [2] Not to be confused with Niacin, which is the oxide of Nicotine, and has a very different biological effect. ... Heroin ((INN) Diacetylmorphine, (BAN) diamorphine) is a semi-synthetic opioid. ... Cocaine (see also: crack) is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ...

In the case of most other drugs and habits, going cold turkey may be unpleasant, but not life-threateningly dangerous. Terminating medication that has been prescribed, however, may be dangerous.

Use in popular culture

• John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band made the term famous with the song "Cold Turkey".
• The 1971 film Cold Turkey is a comedy about a small town that tries to give up smoking for thirty days in order to win a large cash prize.

John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... The Plastic Ono Band is the band John Lennon formed after he left the Beatles. ... Cold Turkey was a 1969 single by John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band. ... Cold Turkey is a 1971 comedy starring a long list of comedic actors, several of whom are well-known to North American television audiences. ...

See also

• Asceticism

Ascetic redirects here. ...

External links

• Information on addiction, withdrawals and harm reduction strategies concerning illicit drugs
• WhyQuit, a free quit smoking forum dedicated exclusively to cold turkey quitting

References

1. ^ cold turkey. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc.. Retrieved on December 20, 2006.