How Is Cocaine Addiction Treated?

In the year 2013, cocaine addictions accounted for more than six percent of the admissions to drug rehab and substance abuse programs. The vast majority of cocaine addicts also abuse other substances or are addicted to alcohol in addition to their addiction to crack cocaine. As one of the most serious addictions one can have, an effective treatment facility will need to treat a cocaine addiction from an emotional, physical, spiritual, environmental and social aspect.

There are a wide variety of cocaine rehab center options around the country, and many of the most successful programs offer group therapy and inpatient treatment options. Since many abusers of cocaine are hardened drug addicts, an inpatient treatment facility offers the highest rate of program completion and success after treatment.

If you suspect that a friend or loved one may be addicted to cocaine, there are some telltale signs that may confirm your suspicions. While habitual drug users may have a hard time hiding their symptoms or may not care to keep their behaviors under wraps, other addicts become particularly good at pretending everything is normal.

Here are some of the most common signs of cocaine abuse: excessive excitability, dilated pupils, a frequent runny or bleeding nose, weight loss, socially isolating oneself or needing constant privacy, alternating between periods of excessive talkativeness and deep depression, burn marks on the hands or lips, financial difficulties and a loss of general interest in hobbies. Since cocaine can either be snorted or smoked, you may also want to look for powder residue as well as spoons, baggies, razor blades and other identifiable paraphernalia to make the determination if your friend or family member has a cocaine addiction. Most people do not use cocaine sporadically. Statistically, cocaine users abuse the drug along with other substances. Since cocaine is a stimulant, like speed, many drug users abuse alcohol or other downers in addition to cocaine to counteract the revved-up feeling in the central nervous system.

Cocaine is highly addictive and can quickly change the chemical compound in the brain, making it hard to use the drug without assistance or help with injections, smoking or inhalation. Between the years 2001 and 2013, there has been a 29-percent increase in cocaine overdoses. Cocaine tends to leave the body swiftly, so habitual abusers may binge on the drug by taking several doses back to back; this leads to physical and physiological dependency much more quickly than with other types of addictive substances. If a friend or loved one has been abusing cocaine for a long time, you may notice that their disposition is always restless and that they experience paranoia, angry outbursts, hallucinations and increased anxiety on a regular basis.

To treat a cocaine addiction, inpatient treatment with group therapy is often the most successful. Outpatient centers can also work for addicts with families, jobs and other obligations, but an extensive stay at a distraction-free inpatient environment tends to offer the best chance at having a successful road to recovery. Some people prefer a structured environment for recovery; others need spa-like amenities and a gentler approach to healing in order to uncover and address the underlying triggers of their addiction.

Before attending a rehabilitation clinic or recovery center, most cocaine addicts will need to attend a medically-assisted detox treatment at a licensed facility. With 24-hour monitoring, cocaine addicts can detox in a safe environment that can provide them with the medical treatments and care needed to get through this difficult stage of treatment. It typically takes seven to ten days to complete the detox phase of treatment.

After the detox phase has concluded, the friendly staff at an inpatient or outpatient treatment center will welcome your friend or family member with love, support and care. Through one-on-one therapy with a licensed counselor, group therapy and sharing, a structured curriculum and a variety of on-site activities, cocaine addicts can learn what events led them to this point in their lives, how to cope with environmental triggers that may encourage a relapse and how to integrate back into a normal routine outside of treatment.

Every treatment center offers a different approach to recovery. When it comes to cocaine addiction, there is not a one-size-fits-all option for everyone. Most rehabilitation facilities will treat patients addicted to cocaine on a case-by-case basis. What works for one person may not work for another. With a customized treatment program, cocaine addicts can recover at a pace that suits their individual needs and comfort level.