JUMP TO SECTION
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug. This drug is made from the leaves of the cocoa plant, called the Erythroxylon coca. Cocaine is a Schedule II drug, which means that it has medical uses but can be administered by a medical professional for certain purposes, such as local anesthesia. That being said, cocaine also has a high potential for misuse, which leads many to become addicted and dependent on this drug.
There are two main forms of cocaine: Cocaine and crack cocaine. Of the two, cocaine hydrochloride (cocaine) has a higher propensity for abuse when injected, while crack cocaine (cocaine base) has a higher risk of abuse when smoked and inhaled. In either case, both forms cause similar psychological and psychoactive effects, such as raising dopamine levels to cause good feelings or having a likelihood of causing dependency.
A cocaine rehab center aims to help you get off this drug, address the negative changes to the brain and body, and get you back to living a sober life in which you have control.
What Are Cocaine's Effects?
In the short term, cocaine causes several effects, including:
- Euphoria
- Talkativeness
- Mental alertness
- Energetic feelings
- A decreased need for sleep
- A decreased need for food
For most people, the high from smoking cocaine lasts around five to 10 minutes. Snorting it can lead to a high lasting 15 to 30 minutes. During that time, the body’s blood vessels may constrict, the eyes dilate, and the body’s temperature rises. The heart is often affected, leading to a high heart rate and an increase in blood pressure. With high dosages of cocaine, behavior may become erratic or violent.
The long-term effects of cocaine use are serious. With repeated exposure, the brain begins to adapt, becoming less sensitive to the drug. That means that an individual would need to take more to get the same high. Additionally, the brain’s sensitivity to stress increases, making the likelihood of withdrawal symptoms more likely. Heart attacks, damage to organs such as the lungs, and the contraction of diseases like HIV from needle sharing are potential complications of cocaine use.
What Does a Cocaine Addiction Treatment Program Do?
The typical approach for the treatment of cocaine use disorder (CUD) is to combine group therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy into a recovery plan. Depending on the severity of the drug use, the program may also involve a process of detoxification or an inpatient stay. Some people opt to go through outpatient treatment instead, but the exact method that will work for you will depend on your history, your home environment, your support system, and other important factors.
Detoxification and Cocaine Withdrawal at an Addiction Treatment Center
Before you or a loved one can take advantage of the many treatment options for CUD, most mental health services will ask that you stop using cocaine. Overcoming cocaine addiction without support can be difficult, which is why detoxification and withdrawal support are available through hospitals, partial-hospitalization programs, and some inpatient and outpatient programs.
With detoxification programs, the focus is placed on reducing the discomfort of cocaine withdrawal. It is important to point out that withdrawal can be dangerous, so it’s advisable to work with a team of medical professionals and nursing staff who can monitor withdrawal symptoms and prevent complications.
As a stimulant drug, cocaine can cause withdrawal symptoms for anywhere from one to two weeks, on average. Some people may go on to experience protracted withdrawal, which is an extended period of time with less severe withdrawal symptoms. Fortunately, with the right treatment and support for relapse prevention, it is possible to get through withdrawal and begin on your recovery journey.
Withdrawal symptoms from cocaine may include:
- Agitation and restless behavior
- A general sense of fatigue
- Increased appetite
- Psychomotor retardation (a slowing of activity and movement)
- A general feeling of discomfort
- Vivid and unpleasant dreams
Generally, withdrawal from cocaine doesn’t cause visible symptoms like vomiting or shaking, but that doesn’t mean that these symptoms aren’t frustrating or upsetting. While there are no other drugs specifically used to treat these symptoms, there may be some to help manage them, such as sleep aids to help you rest or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) to help with anxiety or depression. In some cases, you may receive medication management services to help support cessation.
Inpatient Cocaine Abuse Treatment
When you seek professional help for cocaine, crack cocaine, or other forms of this drug, it may be beneficial to go to an inpatient or residential facility. Some inpatient facilities have detox as a treatment offered, which can streamline your recovery journey, while others will request that you have detoxed before arrival.
Not everyone has the same treatments in an inpatient treatment center. However, some of the activities and therapies you participate in may include:
Medical Check-Ups
Cocaine addiction can lead to many health problems. When you arrive at a treatment center, one of the first steps often involves a physical exam. During that time, the medical director may look for signs of heart damage or a heart attack, as both are common with cocaine abuse.
Other exams might include a chest X-ray or blood tests to be sure of the health care support you need while you’re in the treatment center.
Therapy Involving Family Members
Oftentimes, cocaine use has a negative impact on those around you. For that reason, family therapy can be a good add-on to inpatient or outpatient programs. As a part of the recovery process, the goal is to help teach the individual and their family members how to cope with this condition, to provide skills training to improve relationships, and to provide strong support for a better chance of long-term recovery.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a kind of individual therapy that focuses on restructuring the way you think. It helps you identify and challenge negative or distorted thoughts or feelings, aiming to replace them with more realistic and balanced thoughts. CBT sessions can also help encourage changes in behavior, improve problem-solving skills, and provide skills training.
Group Sessions
Peer support is a mainstay in recovery care. Learning what others have been through, seeing their successes, and building a network of peers to rely on is a powerful tool in recovery. For those who have been addicted to cocaine, alcohol, or any other highly addictive substance that has a negative impact on the body, it’s recognized that addictive behavior can be triggered in different scenarios without careful monitoring. Having others on your side who are committed to sobriety and there to support you can help.
Setting Up an Aftercare Plan
Whether you or a loved one is at a low or high risk of relapse, it’s important to have an aftercare plan in place. Aftercare plans may involve schedules for outpatient treatment and care, appointments with medical professionals, scheduled group sessions, care in a halfway or sober-living home, and more.
Intensive Outpatient Programs for Cocaine Use Disorder
Intensive Outpatient Therapy can help cocaine users stop the use of the drug without requiring an inpatient or residential stay. IOTs will vary from program to program, and the specifics of each person’s treatment plan will vary based on the rehab programs available, how long they’ve dealt with substance abuse, their home support system, and other factors.
In general, the IOT treatments at Reprieve Recovery provide nine hours of treatment per week with treatment professionals. Programs may include group and individual drug counseling, family therapy and involvement, and other supportive treatments to improve the chances of long-term recovery.
What Are the Benefits of Treatment for Cocaine Addiction?
Stopping the use of cocaine has several significant benefits for your health. According to one study, cocaine cessation leads to:
- Significant improvements in emotional regulation (four weeks post-cessation)
- A greater ability to learn and develop emotional coping strategies (four weeks post-cessation)
- Reduced chances of long-term complications of cocaine addiction, such as problems with language and memory, damage to the lungs, a chronically inflamed, runny nose, or the contraction of diseases such as HIV or hepatitis C.
- A reduced risk of damage to the organs throughout the body, such as the gastrointestinal tract and heart muscle.
- A reduction in the risk of movement disorders, neurological problems, strokes, and seizures.
- Better relationships with loved ones, employers, and educators.
We accept most insurance plans
We accept a wide range of insurance plans, making it easier for more people to get the quality care they need without worrying about the cost.
Effective Cocaine Addiction Treatment in New Jersey
According to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services’ Drug and Alcohol Abuse report, there are over 60,000 admissions for drug treatment within the state each year. Of those, 13% involved the use of cocaine or crack cocaine. Our team at Reprieve Recovery wants you to know that you are not alone. There is support through various programs that you can use to get sober and live a life free of drug abuse. Contact our team today to learn more about our services and how we can help.
