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“I was addicted to cocaine.”
Addicted to cocaine? Don’t give up — we’re here to help! Cumberland Heights drug and alcohol addiction treatment center has staff available to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The myriad issues and emotions associated with addiction — loneliness, low self-esteem, helplessness, lack of control, inability to communicate in a genuine way — can often make seeking help difficult. But cocaine addiction is treatable and recovery is possible. To succeed in cocaine addiction treatment and enter cocaine recovery, the first step is admitting that you have a problem. Then, after you’re admitted to a cocaine addiction rehab center, treatment can be tailored to your specific situation. No single cocaine addiction treatment is appropriate for everyone.
Cocaine addiction creates intense cravings and promotes drug-seeking behaviors. While you may have voluntarily chosen to start using cocaine, over time, physical dependence can compromise your ability to voluntarily stop using the drug. That’s why receiving treatment through an accredited drug treatment center is vitally important. It’s also important to remain in addiction treatment for an adequate length of time. Research shows that often a minimum of three months of drug addiction treatment is required for a positive outcome.
Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. The pure chemical found in cocaine, cocaine hydrochloride, has been an abused substance for more than 100 years. Cocaine is derived from the coca plant, which grows primarily in Peru and Bolivia. People have been ingesting the leaves of the coca plant for thousands of years. In the last century, cocaine has been used by doctors to treat a variety of illnesses. Today, cocaine has some medical uses; for example, as a local anesthetic for some eye, ear and throat surgeries. However, cocaine is labeled a Schedule II drug because it is at high risk of being abused.
Cocaine comes in different forms and is taken in different ways. The hydrochloride salt form of cocaine is a fine, white powder that is snorted through the nose and absorbed through the nasal tissues. Cocaine can also be dissolved in water and injected directly into the bloodstream with a needle, heightening the intensity of its effects. Other forms of cocaine include:
• Freebase cocaine, which is usually smoked, refers to a compound that has not been neutralized by an acid to make the hydrochloride salt.
• Crack cocaine is a form of freebase cocaine that comes in small lumps (“rocks”) or shavings. Crack cocaine is processed with ammonia or baking soda and water, then heated to remove the hydrochloride. “Crack” refers to the crackling sound made when crack cocaine is smoked. Like cocaine, crack cocaine is powerfully addictive and crack cocaine treatment is similar to cocaine treatment.
Users feel the effects of cocaine almost immediately after one dose. In small amounts (up to 100 milligrams), cocaine causes a user to feel energetic, talkative, euphoric and alert. Cocaine may make the user feel a heightened sense of sight, sound and touch. It may also cut down on the user’s need to sleep or eat.
Cocaine causes constricted blood vessels, dilated pupils and increased blood pressure, heart rate and temperature. Users who take large amounts of cocaine (several hundred milligrams) may experience tremors, vertigo, muscle twitching and paranoia. They may also display erratic or violent behavior.
One of the most important effects of long-term cocaine use is addiction. Cocaine addiction may dramatically disrupt the life of the user. Long-term use may also cause irritability, restlessness, mood disturbances and paranoia. Many medical consequences are associated with cocaine addiction, including cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological effects and gastrointestinal complications.
Once addicted, it is difficult to stop using cocaine without professional help. For those who seek cocaine addiction treatment, promising treatments are used, including cognitive behavioral therapy, a collaborative treatment for cocaine addiction involving a close partnership between therapists and addicted individuals. Residential and outpatient treatment programs cover many aspects of addiction. These programs may include:
• medically supervised cocaine detoxification (detox)
• group and individual counseling
• family therapy
• 12-step program meetings
• relapse prevention
• aftercare programs.
Medical researchers are also currently working to develop pharmacological options for cocaine addiction treatment.
People who don’t voluntarily seek cocaine addiction treatment can still be helped with their drug addiction. Often, intervention is a useful part of chemical dependency treatment, especially with a highly addictive drug such as cocaine. Intervention by friends and family can help addicts face their drug addiction while giving them the encouragement they need to stop using drugs.
Often, when an individual seeks treatment for addiction, family members can also benefit from programs offered in an addiction treatment center. When family members understand how to help their loved one, the addicted person’s chances of recovery increase.
As previously mentioned, withdrawal and recovery from cocaine addiction is best accomplished under the supervision of a medical professional in a cocaine treatment center setting. Staff at cocaine rehab centers can assist with physical withdrawal symptoms and feelings of paranoia, depression, irritability and anxiety that can accompany cocaine detox.
After successful detox and treatment, it’s imperative to continue the lifelong recovery process through attending 12-step meetings and aftercare programs.
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