Overcoming Cocaine Addiction: Effective Treatment Strategies

Cocaine addiction is a chronic and relapsing condition that can affect anyone. Today, millions of Americans have a cocaine use disorder, and millions of others have lost their lives due to cocaine-related complications. If you or a loved one is struggling with cocaine addiction, you should know that treatment is available and recovery is possible. Cocaine addiction treatment can help return you to productive functioning in your home, workplace and community.

What Does Cocaine Addiction Look Like?

Cocaine has a reputation for being extremely addictive. In fact, in cases of crack cocaine, users can become addicted after first use. Cocaine use produces intense yet short-lived effects, which can lead you to take more to re-experience the high.

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Repeated use causes the mind and body to become so used to the drug that you build tolerance to it. At this point, subsequent episodes of drug use will produce decreased levels of pleasure. So, you'll need to take more cocaine often to achieve the desired effects. You may also:

Get withdrawal symptoms like exhaustion, cravings, restlessness or depression when you reduce your dosage or stop using
Notice that you're always thinking about or trying to get the drug
Find it hard to reduce or control the amount you take even if you try to
Disregard friends, family, and work to use cocaine
Be aware of the damage the drug is causing you, but you cannot stop taking it
Become impulsive, dishonest, or reckless
Experience physical symptoms like dilated pupils, chest pains, etc.

Side Effects of Cocaine Use

While cocaine use produces pleasure, feelings of intense wellbeing and even heightened sexual arousal, increasing the doses raises the risk of experiencing adverse effects. Some common side effects of cocaine include:

Heart attacks
Rapid heart rate
Mood swings
Sexual dysfunction
Significant weight loss
Constricted blood vessels
High blood pressure
Cardiac arrest
Overdose

If you notice any of these signs of cocaine addiction in yourself or someone you care about, it is best to seek help. Cocaine addiction is a severe medical condition that needs professional intervention and support.

Quitting cold turkey is not a good idea. You may experience extreme anxiety, depression, seizures, feelings of hopelessness or even suicidal thoughts during withdrawal. There's also the issue with cravings that make you prone to relapse.

That's why it is always a good idea to seek professional help for detox. Professional addiction treatment can make all the difference in reducing these risks.

Effective Treatment Strategies

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Treatment for cocaine addiction can be effective, and many individuals achieve successful recovery with the proper support and interventions. It's essential to recognize that addiction is a complex and chronic condition, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. However, the following evidence-based treatments and comprehensive strategies are successful in helping individuals overcome cocaine addiction.

Supervised Detox

This is the initial phase of treatment that focuses on safely managing the withdrawal symptoms associated with discontinuing cocaine use. The goal of supervised detox is to help individuals transition through the acute withdrawal phase safely and prepare for the next stages of addiction treatment.

During detox, trained medical professionals closely monitor the patient's physical and mental health. They may give medications to ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings. They will also offer emotional support to help one cope with anxiety, depression, and other emotional aspects of withdrawal.

Behavioral Therapies

Behavioral therapies help address the psychological aspects of addiction. They empower patients to understand the root causes of their addiction, develop coping mechanisms, and build a foundation for long-term recovery. Examples of behavioral health therapies include:

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and change negative behaviors and thought patterns related to drug use. CBT helps those in recovery develop coping skills and strategies to prevent relapse.
Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET): Explores and resolves ambivalence toward quitting use. It aims to promote intrinsic motivation for change.
Contingency Management: Utilizes a reward system to reinforce positive behaviors and discourage drug use. Individuals earn incentives for meeting treatment goals.

Counseling

Counseling is an integral component of cocaine addiction treatment. It provides a supportive and therapeutic space for one to explore their behaviors, emotions and thoughts related to substance use. There are different counseling settings:

Individual Counseling: Involves sitting one-on-one with the therapist for a personalized exploration of issues contributing to addiction and the development of coping strategies.
Group Counseling: Is where one sits in a group with others, so they can learn, share experiences, and get professional support.
Family Counseling: Involves family members in the therapeutic process to address family dynamics, enhance communication, and build a supportive home environment.

Support Systems

The support system is instrumental for sustained recovery. It can come from family, friends, or even peers. A robust support system helps individuals navigate the challenges of recovery, encourages them during difficult times, and reinforces the commitment to a drug-free life.

12-Step Programs (e.g., Narcotics Anonymous): These programs provide a structured approach to recovery, incorporating support, accountability, and a spiritual component. They are crucial for peer support and guidance, critical for staying sober.
Sober Living Homes: Transitional housing where individuals in recovery live together, providing a supportive and drug-free environment.
Aftercare Planning: This helps people in recovery maintain their sobriety. It may include ongoing therapy, regular check-ins, and participation in support groups.

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Treatment for Comorbid Cocaine Use and Mental Health Conditions

Dual diagnosis treatment helps address co-occuring cocaine use and mental health disorders simultaneously. Many individuals with cocaine addiction may experience underlying mental health issues that contribute to or result from their substance abuse. So, treating one condition without addressing the other may lead to incomplete recovery or an increased risk of relapse.

Holistic Approach

Some treatment centers like More Than Rehab also use holistic approaches to treat cocaine use disorders. These approaches involve a combination of medical interventions, behavioral therapies, support groups, stress management techniques, nutritional counseling, exercise, and other complementary therapies to address the individual's physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment at More Than Rehab

At More Than Rehab, our goal is not just to help individuals overcome cocaine addiction but to empower them with the tools and support needed for sustained recovery and an improved quality of life. If you or someone you know is seeking help for cocaine addiction, we are here to provide compassionate and comprehensive care.

888-249-2191

What is the Difference Between Cocaine and Crack Cocaine?

While cocaine first became popular in pop culture around the 1970’s, it is one of the oldest drugs in the world, as the leaves from the coca plant have been chewed for thousands of years. Originating in South America, the Erythroxylon coca plant was used as a stimulating medicinal product; elevating mood, aiding in digestion and suppressing appetite. The production of these plants were restricted mainly to areas where it was naturally grown, places like Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia, until the mid 19th century when American pharmaceutical companies began exploring the region. At first considered safe, the destructive and addictive qualities of the coca plant became apparent within 30 years of its introduction as a pharmaceutical product.

Cocaine is a central nervous system drug that is extremely addictive. Today, It is considered to be one of the top five most addictive drugs in the United States. According to a survey conducted in 2014 by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there were an estimated 1.5 million Americans who had used cocaine within the last month. Furthermore, roughly around 913,000 people in the United States had met enough criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders for dependence or abuse of cocaine in any form.

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When talking about cocaine, there are a couple of terms that may be thrown around regarding the drug, such as cocaine and crack cocaine. While it is easy to lump the two together since they are almost molecularly identical, there are still a few differences that keep them from being the same.

Molecular Differences Between Crack and Cocaine

In its natural form, when it is extracted from the coca plant, cocaine is a hydrochloride salt. At first, the substance is refined into a paste and eventually pressed into a white powder. This substance is the powdered form of cocaine and is often snorted, mixed with a liquid then injected, or smoked. Crack cocaine, otherwise known as crack, is essentially the same substance but in a different form. The process of making crack cocaine involves mixing the white powder with a base, usually baking soda, and then boiling it with water. The baking soda is removed, along with the hydrochloride, during this process making the substance more concentrated as the psychoactive chemical of cocaine is the only thing left behind. Crack gets its name from the crackling noise it makes while being smoked. Cocaine and crack cocaine are both extremely dangerous as often times pure cocaine can be cut with other harmful substances, like laundry detergent or laxatives, in order to increase profits or to create the substance known as crack.

Other Differences Between Cocaine and Crack Cocaine

Aside from the slight change in their molecular structures, there are still a few key differences between cocaine and crack cocaine.

Cost- Crack generally sells for less money as it's easier to produce than cocaine and is often cut with harmful chemicals.
Popularity- Although crack is cheaper to buy and produce, more people report using cocaine in its powdered form. Of the 1.5 million people who reported using cocaine in the last month, only around 25 percent of them reported using crack.
Age- As mentioned earlier, the use of cocaine dates back thousands of years whereas crack only became popular around the 1980’s.
Socioeconomic Impact- During the Reagan Era of the 1980’s, republicans and democrats joined forces for the war on drugs, implementing mandatory sentencing laws. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act was passed by congress, stating that anyone possessing over 5 grams of crack was to be sentenced to 5 years in prison. Until President Barack Obama signed the Fair Sentencing Act in 2010, someone would have had to possess 500 grams of cocaine in order to receive the same sentence. Despite his efforts, there is still a huge sentencing disparity between them as now someone would have to possess 90 grams of powder cocaine in order to receive the same sentence. Research shows that more African Americans are likely to be convicted of crack cocaine possession whereas white Americans are more likely to be convicted of powder cocaine possession.
Effect Time- Crack is typically faster acting than cocaine as the smoke is being inhaled, having an almost immediate impact to the user. Cocaine is said to take around 3-5 minutes to take effect when snorted or 15 to 30 minutes when injected.
Addiction and Danger- Crack is said to be more addictive as the effects take less time to kick in. The increased potency and lower cost draw addicts in as their addiction progresses. Crack can also be more harmful as many of the chemicals used to produce it are dangerous and unknown.

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Both cocaine and crack cocaine increase the amount of dopamine released in the brain, causing a rush of euphoria when abused. However, since crack is more potent, their side effects can differ from one another.

Side effects of Cocaine Can Include

Dilated pupils
Decreased appetite
Restlessness
Increased blood pressure
Anxiety
Nausea

Side Effects of Crack Cocaine Can Include

Increased rate of breathing
Hyperstimulation
Aggressive behavior
Depression
Psychosis
Disorientation

Since crack cocaine is more potent, there is an increased risk of overdose but both drugs can kill you when taking too much. Long term use of both substances can lead to life threatening conditions such as respiratory failure, infectious disease, fatal overdose, strokes, hallucinations, and addiction.

Anyone can become addicted to either of these substances, even after just one use. Cocaine use has long been glorified in movies and sold as the “rich man's drug”, making it appealing to any age, race, or demographic. Withdrawal symptoms can become severe when discontinuing use of any of these substances. If you, a loved one, or someone you know is a cocaine user and is unsure about whether or not they are addicted, or are becoming dependent, that is usually a good sign that some level of help is necessary. There is always a chance for recovery and you do not have to struggle alone. Reach out to us for help today to begin your journey on the road to a healthier and happier life.