odwyk

Odwyk is a Polish noun meaning withdrawal or abstinence, particularly from addictive substances such as alcohol or drugs. The term can denote the state of refraining from use as a lifestyle choice or, more often, the withdrawal process that follows cessation of substance use. In medical and public health contexts, odwyk is used to describe the detoxification phase and the early period of recovery, during which withdrawal symptoms may occur and clinical supervision is sometimes required. It is commonly paired with the name of the substance, for example odwyk alkoholowy (alcohol withdrawal) or odwyk od narkotyków (withdrawal from drugs).

The concept is closely related to but distinct from detoks, which more narrowly refers to the medical procedure of removing toxins and stabilizing physiology. Odwyk also appears in discussions of addiction treatment, rehabilitation programs, and relapse prevention, sometimes highlighting behavioral and social aspects of abstinence, such as support groups and ongoing therapy. In everyday usage, odwyk can describe a person’s commitment to abstinence as well as the experience of withdrawal after stopping substance use.