Cocaine Addiction: A Guide To Quitting

Overcoming an addiction to any substance isn’t easy by any means and can be a different experience for everyone. Withdrawal symptoms vary depending on the substance you’re addicted to, some people require long term inpatient treatment, and some people can find success in sobriety by going to only outpatient treatment. If you or a loved one are starting down the path of addiction treatment for cocaine, keep reading for some insight on what you’ll be going through.

But First, What is Cocaine?

Cocaine, also referred to as “coke”, is an illegal drug that is the second-most popular recreational drug in the world after cannabis. Derived from coca leaves, the drug is most commonly used in powder or crystal form and can cause short-lived high energy, intense joy, and decrease feelings of pain. It is also highly addictive, and many users report feeling surprised after how few repeat uses it took to start craving the drug.

A major issue facing many cocaine users today is that the drug is readily available and considered socially acceptable in many social circles. This stems from the drug’s peak use in the 1980s, but it remains high today. Long-term users in particular who are trying to quit may face a peculiar set of social challenges as a result, and many feel pressured to either keep using or be faced with changing jobs or social groups. 

That said, cocaine is considered to be a dangerous drug, and long-term use can cause serious damage to the brain, heart, nasal passageway, veins and other parts of the body. Overdose on cocaine is possible, as users often keep increasing the amounts they use (and the frequency). The National Institute on Drug Abuse also reports that long-term users become less able to experience natural feelings of joy and happiness, because the neuron receptors in the brain begin to adapt to cocaine instead. While this can sound scary, the good news is that by understanding how cocaine works, we can find the key to learning how to beat addiction. 

Signs and Symptoms of Abuse

“Am I actually addicted to cocaine?” is a common question that many users ask themselves repeatedly before recognizing they actually have a problem. The truth is that this form of drug abuse can result in a variety of signs and symptoms:

  • Long periods of alertness or staying awake
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Paranoia
  • Dilated pupils
  • Loss of appetite or changes in eating habits
  • Schedule changes / frequent inability to be on time
  • Extreme excitement
  • Irritability 
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Confusion
  • Nasal problems

Long-term use (as well as high amounts of cocaine done at once) can also result in a range of even more serious issues, including both legal problems and detrimental health effects. Users may experience headaches, heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, nausea, and/or fever-like symptoms. Some people may also experience seizures or even slip into a coma. All of these signs and symptoms can indicate an overdose and should receive medical attention as soon as possible, followed by entry into an addiction treatment program. 

How To Quit

Recovering from a cocaine addiction can be challenging, but it is far from impossible. The fact that you are reading this already indicates that you recognize there is a problem, and that is the first and biggest step in quitting. Be proud of yourself for wanting help! 

The next steps involve actually overcoming your cocaine addiction. While ceasing use is obviously the biggest part in this, many people struggling with cocaine addiction find it useful to do some mindful thinking about how their addiction came about in the first place. For example, many users report that the first cocaine high was the strongest, most pivotal one they experienced. Their subsequent use was then often an attempt to recapture that feeling, but they later recognized that reaching it was impossible.

Many people also first used cocaine in social settings, where they wanted to fit in with the group and strengthen their bond with certain people. In this case, it’s important to recognize that interacting with groups who support unhealthy activities like cocaine use is not in your best interest, and you should surround yourself with friends and family members who actually care about your help and support your decision to quit. 

When it comes to actually stopping cocaine use, it’s strongly recommended that you do so in a medical setting and/or have medical professionals nearby who can help you. As you’re probably aware, quitting almost any drug can result in withdrawal symptoms. These may include:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Anxiety / Depression
  • Sweating / Chills
  • Auditory / visual hallucinations 
  • Fatigue
  • Changes in eating habits

It’s important to realize that, while unpleasant, all of these symptoms are temporary and will go away. The best way to manage them is by going through an established cocaine addiction treatment program with caring staff members who will ensure your safety. In order to help prevent relapse and achieve long-term recovery, it is also important that you participate in therapy, surround yourself with healthy, positive people, and avoid triggers that can cause future drug abuse. 

Need Help? We Got You Covered

You don’t have to go through quitting cocaine alone. At True Help Addiction Treatment Solutions, we offer free addiction treatment placement that can pair you up with the right program. We will be there for you throughout your time in treatment, offering support every step of the way. We strongly believe that having a solid support network is key to ending drug abuse and achieving long-term sobriety. 

If you have a loved one who is struggling with drug abuse, we also offer intervention services that can help. Contact us today to learn more. 

Finding Addiction Treatment: Near Me

Addiction is a serious disease. Whether you’re addicted to drugs, alcohol, or both, the best thing you can do is seek professional help. You can’t quit alone and more importantly, you shouldn’t have to do it alone. One of the best parts about treatment programs is having the support of others who know exactly what you’re going through.

It can also be detrimental to one’s health to quit using drugs or alcohol alone. Certain drug withdrawals can cause serious health complications or can even be fatal. The first step to seeking treatment is establishing if you’ll benefit from it. 

Who Needs Addiction Treatment?

There are a few questions you can ask yourself to help determine if you need addiction treatment. If you answer yes to at least one of the questions below, you may want to seek professional help.

  • Have you tried unsuccessfully to quit using drugs or alcohol?
  • Do you feel like you can’t have fun unless drugs and alcohol are involved?
  • Is your drug or alcohol use harming your relationships with friends and family members?
  • Have you been messing up at school or at work due to drug and alcohol use?
  • Have you ever broken the law to get money for drugs or alcohol?
  • Have you been arrested as a result of your addiction?
  • Have you ever overdosed?
  • Does the idea of running out of drugs or alcohol scare you?
  • Have you ever taken one drug to get over the effects of another?
  • Have you ever tried a drug without knowing what it is or what it will do just to get high?
  • Do you want to stop using drugs or alcohol but don’t know how to? 

Addiction manifests in many forms. While the questions above aren’t a definitive yes/no “I need treatment” checklist, it’s a good start to get you to self reflect.

How Can Addiction Treatment Benefit You?

If you do decide to seek treatment, there are several ways it will help you. For many people, going to treatment is actually the only way to enter recovery. 

  • Detox: Detoxing from drugs or alcohol is very difficult. Detoxing can affect you physically and mentally. Most people who try to quit without the aid of a detox program can’t handle the process and end up using again. If your treatment program requires you to detox, this will be the first step of treatment. There will be medical professionals guiding you every step of the way making you as comfortable as possible. 
  • One-On-One Therapy: During treatment, you’ll work with a mental health professional on a one-on-one basis. In these sessions, you’ll get to the root of your addiction and find out what led you to become dependent on drugs and alcohol in the first place. When the cause is uncovered, you can work to treat whatever led you to addiction in the first place.
  • Group Therapy: During group therapy, you’ll sit with other clients in treatment, listen to their stories, and also share your own. Listening to other people who are in the same situation as you can be very beneficial during your recovery process.
  • Family Therapy: It’s not uncommon for addiction to affect your relationships with those you love. If you are going to be successful in your treatment, you’ll need a strong support system when you go home. You can work on resolving your issues with your family and repairing your relationships during family therapy sessions.
  • After Care Services: Completing treatment is just the beginning of the recovery process. After care services include sober living, continued therapy, 12-step meetings, etc. These things will help you stay sober when you go home or start a new life post treatment. 

What Program Will Work For Me?

The program that will work best for a person depends on them. Everyone’s addiction is different. Some people can be successful in their recovery through an outpatient program, while others need intense 24/7 treatment plans. Different treatment facilities offer different levels of care. Luckily there are trained professionals who can help you determine your course of treatment.

Addiction Treatment Solutions

Addiction Treatment Solutions wants to help you figure out the level of treatment you need to start recovering from your substance abuse. We’re a free addiction treatment placement service designed to help those struggling with addiction find the right treatment program for them.

Addiction Treatment Solutions offers a comprehensive matching service that helps with admissions, transportation assistance, insurance verification, and care management. Everyone is different, and everyone’s addiction is different. Addiction Treatment Solutions will look at you and your addiction as an individual, and help you find the best treatment plan.

We offer treatment placement for detox, residential inpatient treatment, PHP, IOP/OP, and sober living options. If you are ready to take control of your life, give us a call today. We can help you start a new life that is healthy and substance-free.

How To Help a Loved One Struggling With Addiction

Addiction is one of the most frequently overlooked medical conditions in the healthcare system. There’s a perception that somehow issues related to addiction are not the same as other medical concerns. This is not the case. Addiction is a disease and it’s important for society to recognize how serious it is. One of the major impacts that addiction and drug abuse will have is that it tends to take other people down with it. Other people are impacted by a single person’s struggles with addiction. If you know someone struggling with addiction, we’d like to share some ways you can help them. 

What is Addiction?

Addiction is a medical condition where the body is conditioned to believe that it needs something, like drugs or alcohol, to survive. If someone suffers from an addiction to alcohol or drugs, they’ve tricked the pleasure sensors in the brain. The brain believes it needs those pleasure centers to be triggered by drugs or alcohol on a regular basis in order to feel alive. These are the pleasure sensors that release neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. These are the chemicals that make someone feel good. Aside from drugs and alcohol, other habits that can be addictive are gambling, food, and sex. 

The reason not everyone who’s engaged in the above becomes addicted is because some people’s brains are more resistant to this rewiring. Some people might not even find these activities to be pleasurable. 

How to Tell if Someone is Suffering From Addiction

If someone is having issues with an addiction, the signs and symptoms often show up in the collateral damage. One way addiction and drug abuse is going to impact someone is professionally. They’ll often be unable to focus in a setting where they don’t have access to drugs or alcohol, resulting in a poor job performance. Many people who suffer from addiction will actually lose their jobs.

Addiction impacts relationships. An addict’s old friends might fall by the wayside because that person spends all of their time getting high. It’s common for addicts to make new friends who are also addicted to drugs or alcohol while in the throws of their addiction. 

An addict’s family also is affected by their drug or alcohol use. As financial difficulties start to manifest due to the person’s addiction, family tensions run high. Family members are also going to get upset because their loved one is not spending any time with them. The addiction has totally consumed their life and everything else has been sacrificed. While it’s common to get angry, it’s important to remember that your loved one needs help and isn’t being hurtful intentionally.

How to Help a Loved One with Addiction

If a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s important to be there for them. Let them know that they’ll never be abandoned. Knowing that they are not alone can make a tremendous difference in the outcome of addiction treatment. Then offer resources to help. This could include a shoulder to cry on, meals, or even access to a hotline. This is going to help someone start the process of recovery.

It’s important to ask for help from trained professionals. Friends and family members are going to be integral to the recovery process; however, it’s just as important to rely on help from objective, medical professionals who specialize in the treatment of addiction. Like the addictions themselves, treatment options come in many shapes and forms. It’s important to find the resources that are right for someone’s addiction treatment needs.

Start With us at Addiction Treatment Solutions

At Addiction Treatment Solutions, we provide an addiction treatment placement service free of charge that assists individuals and families struggling in finding the right treatment for their needs, 24/7. We provide a comprehensive treatment matching service that includes admissions, insurance verification, transportation assistance, and care management that will be with you during the entire duration of your treatment program. If you or someone you know is looking for help with addiction, feel free to contact us today to learn more about how we can help you. We would be honored to help you with your addiction treatment needs.