Cocaine Addiction Treatment

How the Right Cocaine Addiction Treatment Program Can Change Your Life

Cocaine has been around for hundreds of years. In fact, this drug was once used by doctors before the invention of synthetic anesthesia to block pain and was the primary ingredient in one of America’s favorite soft drinks.

Shocked? It’s a revelation that can be hard to swallow – literally! But cocaine, and cocaine addiction treatment, have come a long way.

Scientific advances are made every day in the world of modern medicine – new discoveries and truths that drive researchers and scientists to create better solutions for outdated medical practices – like cocaine.

Icarus Behavioral Health understands the struggles experienced by those with a substance use disorder. Our centers provide clients looking to break free from addiction with appropriate courses of cocaine addiction treatment that facilitate success from the beginning. Let us tell you what you can expect when you start addiction treatment for cocaine at our highly-rated Albuquerque drug rehab facility.

A Brief History of Cocaine in America

A century ago, doctors were not aware of how addictive cocaine is. Their primary goal was to keep their patients out of pain during procedures, and cocaine did the trick. Today, we know that cocaine is highly addictive, and it alters the brain’s structure and function, which can result in both long- and short-term medical complications for users.

The 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in conjunction with a national institute on drug abuse, determined that among people aged 12 and older, 1.9% (approximately 5.2 million people) reported using cocaine during the 12 months prior to the survey. Out of these 5.2 million people, approximately 1.3 million people reported having cocaine use disorder during that 12-month time period.

The cocaine problem is serious in the United States, with statistics showing that in 2020, approximately 19,447 people died from an overdose involving cocaine. There are even more who have died as a result of mixing cocaine with other addictive substances, like heroin, meth, alcohol, and more.

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a white powder made from the dried leaves of the coca plant, primarily found in South America. It is a scheduled II stimulant (like methamphetamine) but is so addictive that people end up addicted after just trying it.

When someone uses cocaine, they experience a rapid, intense feeling of power and energy – when it wears off, feelings of depression and nervousness set in, and the user requires more to shake off the unpleasant feelings.

Sometimes referred to as crack, rock, snow, toot, white, base, nose candy, basa, smack, and numerous other street names, cocaine is primarily administered through inhalation, snorting, or intravenously. This highly addictive drug works by targeting the central nervous system and is so dangerous that even after a single use, it can cause heart attack, stroke, or even death.

The Appeal of Using Cocaine

Life can be difficult – but how we cope with it is what matters most. For some, turning to highly addictive substances feels to be the right answer. Cocaine offers users this experience, which is why the substance ends up abused:

• Euphoria
• High energy levels
• Excessive talkativeness
• Mental alertness
• Hypersensitivity to sight, sound, and touch
• A decreased need for food or sleep
• Mental numbness

It can be a long time before you realize the true impact that this drug has on your life. Unfortunately, the long-term impact may be irreversible, but that does not mean there isn’t hope.

Icarus Behavioral Health’s cocaine addiction treatment programs were designed with longevity in mind – healthier living combined with therapies to cater to remaining cocaine-free.

Crack Cocaine

A more rapidly responding form of cocaine is called “crack.” Named from the sound it makes when it is heated and smoked, crack cocaine is made by cooking cocaine powder cut with baking soda, which is then broken into small pieces called rocks. These rocks are white or tan in color (think of the food pellets you would feed a cat or a gerbil) and are most often smoked using a pipe.

The Effects of Cocaine Use on the Body

Cocaine use, even one time, can create negative consequences on the body and its systems. You might not realize the impact the drug has simply because it alters brain chemistry so much that you are more worried about getting back that intense high back versus what is happening to your body.

At Icarus, we have helped clients work through their cocaine use disorder and deal with both short- and long-term effects of the substance. We work with you to understand what is happening, what has happened, and how to move forward in the future after using cocaine or other addictive substances.

Short-Term Effects of Cocaine Addiction

After just one time of using cocaine, you may experience short-term effects on the body. Some of these effects can be felt during use and long after the drug has worn off, including:

• Loss of appetite
• Bruxism and ‘cocaine jaw‘
• Increased heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature
• Blood vessel constriction
• Respiratory distress
• Dilated pupils
• Disturbances in eating and sleeping patterns
• Nausea
• Hyperstimulation
• Erratic, bizarre, and sometimes violent behavioral patterns
• Hallucinations
• Hyperexcitability
• Irritability
• Anxiety
• Paranoia
• Panic and psychosis
• Convulsions
• Possible increase in hair loss
• Seizures
• Sudden death

Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Addiction

Addiction to substances can create long-term negative impacts on the body – physically, mentally, and emotionally. The longer you use cocaine, the more likely you are to develop cocaine use disorders and require more and more of the substance to facilitate a “high.” The long-term use of cocaine can result in these effects on the body:

• Permanent damage to the blood vessels of the heart and brain
• High blood pressure
• Liver, kidney, and lung damage
• A breakdown in the nose (sinus) tissues due to snorting
• Respiratory failure from smoking cocaine
• Infectious diseases and abscesses from injecting cocaine
• Malnutrition
• Dental problems
• Auditory and tactile hallucinations (bugs crawling under the skin, etc.)
• Sexual problems, reproductive damage, infertility
• Disorientation
• Apathy
• A state of confused exhaustion
• Irritability
• Mood disturbances
• Mental disorders
• Increased risky behavior (gambling, thrill-seeking, etc.)
• Delirium and psychosis
• Severe depression
• Increased tolerance to cocaine or other stimulants (requiring higher dosages to obtain a high – resulting in mixing or overdosing)

The Reality of Drug Overdoses

The higher the tolerance (or cocaine dependence) to an addictive substance, the more at risk a person becomes of experiencing an overdose. A cocaine overdose or an overdose of other drugs can be accidental or intentional but results from the same action – taking too much of a substance (most commonly drugs) but can also occur with alcohol abuse and prescription medications.

Overdoses can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe but require medical attention to ensure permanent damage has not resulted or to prevent death. Several resources are available through our website, providing you with the information necessary on what to do if you or a loved one overdoses on an addictive substance. Crack and freebase forms of cocaine can also lead to overdose more readily, due to increased potency and a more immediate onset.

The Data on Drugs in America

Based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics (operated through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), a national institute on drug abuse and substance use disorders, in 2020, there were 91,799 drug-involved overdose deaths in the United States.

Although the data is not specific to every type of drug, the report paints a picture of the growing drug addiction and abuse epidemic. The CDC provides data on unintentional and undetermined intent drug overdose deaths through the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) and through the non-fatal drug overdose reporting system DOSE (Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology).

How to Treat Cocaine Addiction

There is currently no treatment for cocaine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of cocaine addiction, although further studies and research are ongoing in the field to find medical solutions to treating cocaine addiction. So the best way to treat cocaine addiction is through therapy programs in treatment centers.

It may not be easy to determine the most effective treatment for cocaine addiction, but you must undergo cognitive behavioral therapy to be properly assessed. There are several behavioral therapies that an addict can be placed on. The treatment program will depend largely on the level of his addiction and his medical history. Your treatment providers will assess your situation and determine the best program for you.

Based on the above, effective cocaine abuse and substance abuse treatment will encompass the following treatment programs:

• Medically assisted detox
• Long-term rehab
• Outpatient addiction treatment
• Support groups
• Residential treatment programs
• Aftercare

Why Choose Our Drug Abuse Treatment Program?

Treatment for addiction should be comprehensive to get the best result. Most rehab centers have facilities for both residential and outpatient settings, and clients are treated under strict health regulations for drug use.

Many behavioral treatments for cocaine use disorder run for between 30 and 60 days. However, in line with the recommendation by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a long-term treatment program should run for up to 90 days or more to produce the best result.

Icarus Behavioral Health offers all of these options and treats our clients in a holistic setting, which means we consider your whole history. Getting to the root of your using and finding ways to replace cocaine with healthy ways of experiencing joy and excitement is part of our approach. Choosing Icarus means you have our help every step of the way in your recovery.

Determining if Addiction Treatment is Successful

An indication that addiction treatment has been successful is that the individuals that seek treatment would complete the treatment and then maintain sobriety afterward. A good treatment facility will ensure that the ambiance of the facility will support the recovery process for you, helping to maintain your sobriety.

You need a safe place to remain sober after detox. Safe spaces provide opportunities to learn and practice coping strategies and life skills. They also use therapeutic interventions to address the root causes of your addiction for long-term success.

What Happens During Rehab?

During the 90 days drug rehab session, the individual is placed on various treatment programs while remaining in the facility for the duration of the 90-days (or more). Programs would include behavioral therapy, 12-step interventions, educational lectures, counseling sessions, interaction with support groups, as well as evidence-based treatments.

During the process, you will come in contact with some medical professionals, therapists, other patients being treated, and certified counselors, all working together to ensure a successful cocaine treatment.

Our Treatment Methods for Cocaine Addiction

The following treatment methods for cocaine addiction and substance abuse have shown promise over the years:

• Behavioral Interventions (Contingency Management – CM, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – CBT)
• Therapeutic communities (TCs)
• Community-based recovery groups—such as ‘Cocaine Anonymous’—use a 12-step program that can help someone to maintain abstinence.
• Inpatient treatment program (or residential treatment program)
• Outpatient therapy
• Support groups
• Medication (Although there are no standard drugs for treating cocaine addiction, there are drugs that can help with the treatment and recovery process for addiction. These drugs are typically antidepressants or stimulants and can help alleviate bouts of withdrawal symptoms.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

When undergoing treatment, one of the most trying aspects of the treatment is coping with harsh symptoms accompanied by withdrawal. A holistic approach can be used when you begin the detox process.

Without a proper detox process, it can spell disaster for your body. Experts recommend that someone being treated for substance abuse should follow through with the detox process and the cocaine withdrawal in a medically-safe environment.

In some situations, withdrawal symptoms can pose life-threatening risks, so it is in your best interest to begin the process under medical supervision, which is provided at Icarus Behavioral Health.

Also, it is not advisable for anyone struggling with addiction to try to stop without the help of qualified treatment providers (cold turkey). It is always best to get checked into a facility and have the process monitored in the right and safe environment.

Withdrawing from Cocaine: Symptoms At a Glance

When going through the cocaine withdrawal process, you might experience one or more of the following:

• Intense cravings for more cocaine
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Nightmares
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating
• Muscle aches
• Feverish feelings and tremors
• Nerve pain
• Irrational conduct

Get Professional Support for Cocaine Recovery with Icarus

Breaking the cycle of addiction is not a process that you have to handle on your own. Whether you contact a mental health services administration provider in your area or reach out to us at Icarus Behavioral Health – the bottom line is that you are not alone!

At Icarus treatment centers, we focus on addiction medicine and long-term results that bring you freedom from your addiction. We also accept most major insurance coverages for our programs. The ease of our treatments and therapies makes it possible for you to focus on yourself instead of worrying about how you are going to pay for treatment.

You have already made the first step to living a sober life – let us help you with the rest! Call Icarus today to learn more about the therapy and treatment options available for you to break the chains of addiction that are holding you back.

We believe that family is an integral part of the process and invite you to share your treatment journey with those who love you the most. At Icarus, we believe in creating futures for those looking to end addiction in their lives.