Cold turkey

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For other uses, see Cold turkey (disambiguation).

"Cold turkey" is a slang expression describing the actions of a person who gives up a habit or addiction all at once, rather than gradually (easing the process through tapering off or using supplemental 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.

Usage applies most appropriately to external, artificial chemical addiction, where the associated habits falling under this rubric are relatively simple chemical ones. The situation is different with any 'natural' affectional bond, such as love, where the chemistry is of evolutionary design and therefore far more complex, and which entails multiple associations of human action and feeling. Abrupt rupture of such affective bonds can lead to graver trauma.

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."

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. Although many people disagree, it has been said that nicotine cessation can be the most difficult form of cold turkey, more difficult than even heroin or cocaine. [1]

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

1 Use in popular culture
2 See also
3 External links
4 References

[edit] 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.