Cocaine Addiction: Symptoms, Risks and Treatment Options

Cocaine addiction detox rehab: Heavy words for a heavy subject.

Cocaine is not a harmless party drug.

Some people can use it, once or twice, and leave it. Most, can not.

It is illegal to possess and the trade behind it causes misery to many.

For those who become addicted to it, Cocaine can, very easily, end your life.

Don’t think that all it will do is cause you some problems with your nose and wallet. In time, these will be the least of your problems.

Cocaine addiction symptoms detox rehab

Why Is Cocaine Addictive?

Cocaine is a very potent, very fast acting stimulant.

Derived from the cocoa plant found in South America it is often known as coke or blow.

It is illegal to possess in the UK and you can end up in court, in prison or in a mortuary.

Cocaine, as with all drugs and alcohol, works on receptors in your brain.

When you take it, you activate the reward system in the brain. As a result feel good chemicals are released.

Why Does This Cause Addiction?

When you keep flooding the brain with dopamine, it will adjust to it’s presence.

If you stop taking it, the brain can not cope with this immediate change and incorrect chemical messages start to be sent around the body. This is what causes physical symptoms.

Over time, if you keep taking cocaine, you develop what is known as tolerance.

This means that you will need to take ever increasing amounts in order to have the same effect as the amount you started with.

Overdose Risk

When you stop using cocaine, you will loose tolerance.

If you succumb to the cravings, you will take what you think you need to steady yourself and stop the withdrawals. The problem is that you won’t be able to tolerate as much cocaine as you previously could so an accidental overdose is very common.

A cocaine overdose can be fatal. Unlike opioid overdoses, there is no reversal agent that medics can provide.

How is Cocaine Taken?

Aside from being snorted, cocaine can also be injected and smoked.

Injecting cocaine brings additional risks. Infection is a common problem due to dirty needles: Not just at the injecting site but infection can travel to the heart and surrounding muscle.

When it is cooked with baking soda it produces a rock known as crack. This gives an incredibly quick high which will wear off, very quickly, leading to a “crash.”

Cocaine addiction symptoms detox rehab

How Do I Know If Someone Is Using Cocaine?

While everyone’s experience is different, there are some common themes:

• Rapid decrease in appetite
• Severe nose bleeds
• Weight loss
• Wide pupils
• Heavy sweating
• Extreme mood swings
• Violence
• Hypervigilence
• High blood pressure
• Poor decision making
• Reckless sexual activity
• Suicidal thoughts
• Self harm
• Psychosis
• Coma
• Seizures
• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Death

Long Term Complications

Long term cocaine use is very problematic.

Most people are aware of the permanent damage that can occur to your nose if you keep using cocaine.

There will be damage to the cartilage which may need surgery. You will also damage the blood vessels in the sinuses.

Continued use of cocaine makes you more prevalent to blood bourne diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis. It can also cause long term lung problems, especially if you use crack.

Signs You Are Addicted to Cocaine

Cocaine is a very short acting drug.

The more you use, the more you will need.

Like all drugs, it will control you. Sure, there are those who can “take it or leave it” and use once in a while, but if this was you then you wouldn’t be reading this.

If you try and reduce but can’t, have strong cravings to use and need ever increasing amounts to feel stable: You are in active addiction.

Cocaine Withdrawal

There are varying schools of thought as to the stages of withdrawal and how long they last.

What is certain is that, because cocaine is a very short acting drug, you will experience a significant crash within hours of stopping.

This will peak between 24-72 hours and is the most intense period.

At this point you will experience extreme tiredness and your mood will rapidly drop.

In the crash phase, your appetite will be ferocious and you will sleep for long periods as well as finding it difficult to concentrate. You are likely to be very angry and irritable. You will, most definitely, experience uncontrollable cravings.

Acute Withdrawal

The cravings will continue for up to a week.

During this time, you will continue to feel anxious, restless and experience low mood. Cravings will continue.

Nightmares are common and you will remain irritable and angry.

Cocaine addiction symptoms detox rehab

Residual symptoms (weeks 2-4)

By this point you will start to feel better.

However, you are not out of the woods: yet.

A lingering depressive mood is common, as are mood swings, a lack of motivation and chronic insomnia.

Finding pleasure in everyday activities will be problematic.

Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)

Sadly, some people experience months of discomfort.

The symptoms can include:

• chronic insomnia
• Cravings
• Poor concentration
• Severe mood swings
• Extreme tiredness

Cocaine Detox

Are you looking for a cocaine detox?

There isn’t one!

Cocaine is a very short acting drug. Unlike alcohol or benzodiazepines, there are no established treatment guidelines for cocaine detox.

The medical treatment is supportive and watchful waiting.

Adjunctive medication is provided to help you over the most distressing symptoms.

Medical supervision is needed in case transfer to hospital is required. This is rare but can happen.

Recovery

Residential rehab provides the perfect springboard for recovery from cocaine addiction.

An addictions clinician will assess you and prescribe you adjunctive medication.

Therapy staff will provide groups and individual sessions so you can explore why you were seeking escape through drugs.

Support staff, many in active recovery, are on hand 24/7 to support you. They know what it is like to crave and how the desire to use can become wholly overwhelming.

Relapse Prevention and Aftercare

Relapse happens in chronic illness.

Just as someone with diabetes who has kept it under control for years relapses, so do people recovering from addiction.

People with chronic conditions are taught, by medical professionals, how to manage their conditions and when to seek help. Addiction is no different.

In rehab you will learn vital skills in how to stay abstinent.

If you do relapse, the rehab centre is there to support you. There will be a dedicated number to call as well as weekly support groups for alumni.

Cocaine addiction symptoms detox rehab

Speak to an Experienced Addictions Clinician For Free Advice and Signposting

We are addictions clinicians.

Cocaine addiction is something we deal with: Daily.

Our advice is free, confidential, impartial and honest.

We can advise you on what you need, and what you don’t.

If you want to get residential help, we provide free referrals.

Our service is registered with the Information Commissioners Office.

Residential treatment centres must be registered with the appropriate inspectorate body for that part of the UK. We only signpost to those that are.

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