Category: Cocaine Addiction

What is the Cost of Cocaine Addiction Rehab?

Post author By Addictions Learning Centre
Post date April 25, 2021
No Comments on What is the Cost of Cocaine Addiction Rehab?

The cost of cocaine addiction rehab is nothing compared to the expenses that come with a regular cocaine habit. Regardless of the unique situation that led to cocaine abuse, you deserve recovery. No matter how hard it proves to be, it’s the only good you can do for yourself now. Cocaine addiction will only leave you a shadow of yourself.

When discussing the cost of cocaine addiction services, you’ve got to remember it’s a one-time fee. Once you attain sobriety, you may never have to pay for a rehab program again. It’s an expense that’s well worth the investment.

We understand you may want to plan for your time at a cocaine rehab centre. Therefore, it’s likely you have questions about the pricing and how much you’ll end up paying for rehab. In this blog, we’ll answer all of your questions regarding pricing for cocaine rehab.

But first, let’s take a closer look at what happens at cocaine rehab. This is the first factor that determines how much you’ll pay for cocaine rehab.

What is Cocaine Addiction Rehab Like?

Before we delve into the pricing for cocaine addiction treatment, you need background information. Firstly, you need to know what the experience is like in a cocaine rehab centre. How comprehensive your experience is will influence the cost you’ll incur.

As regards experience, cocaine detox and rehab services may differ from one another. The easily noticeable differences are the type of amenities on offer. While some rehabs fall into the category of luxury centers, others are pretty basic. Luxury rehab centers feature amenities like a swimming pool, gym or a spa. Typically, basic centers are devoid of these.

On the flip side, rehab centers also have several similar experiences, which we will discuss in this section. This will give you a general idea of what to expect in there, especially if you will be admitted to a cocaine rehab center.

If your cocaine addiction is chronic, you’ll have to go through cocaine rehab as an inpatient. If not, you’ll be able to come from your home for weekly sessions. Being admitted means you are an inpatient. Weekly sessions from your home mean you are an outpatient.

Your treatment will be unique

This is one of the first things the specialist will help you understand. Your treatment is unique. You will most likely not get the same treatment roadmap as a friend.

This is due to differences in physiological makeup. Your body is different from that of your friend. Furthermore, your cocaine abuse patterns and their influence on your body are different. Hence, if the thought of using a friend’s rehab medication ever crosses your mind, don’t.

Your therapy will also be unique. This is why a proper consultation step with a cocaine addiction specialist should not be skipped. Don’t try to self-medicate, as this may prove either futile or detrimental to the cause.

You should only take the medication and therapy your specialist recommends. Depending on the treatment plan, the eventual cost of your cocaine addiction rehab may be more affordable than your friend’s.

Detoxification

This is the first stage of cocaine rehab post-consultation. During this stage, your care provider will rid your body of cocaine and its by-products. With regular cocaine use, your body will store cocaine within and between cells. This is what causes a high tolerance to the substance.

By the end of the detoxification process, there’ll be zero cocaine in your body. Although, depending on your addiction level, this stage will come with severe cravings. At this point, you’ll exhibit the following withdrawal symptoms;

Inability to concentrate
Reduced thinking speed
Physical fatigue
Exhaustion
Inability to get sexually aroused
Depression
Anxiety
Increased appetite.
Suicidal thoughts

During detoxification, you should remain within the easy reach of medical personnel. Proximity makes it easy to monitor you and administer medications to help you through detox. Hence, if you have the time and can afford it, inpatient cocaine addiction treatment is best.

Therapy

At the time of writing this, therapy is still the most effective cocaine addiction treatment technique. Hence, you should expect a lot of therapy sessions. You’ll get frequent individual sessions with licenced and experienced therapists. Sometimes, you’ll also have to attend group sessions, which are mostly in the mornings and afternoons.

If you truly want to enjoy the results of paying the cost of cocaine addiction rehab, be ready to be vulnerable. Together with a counsellor, you’ll explore previous behavioural patterns to unlearn those that encourage cocaine abuse. So you see, there’s a lot of honesty and conversation involved.

Support

There are several ways to get the support you need during cocaine rehab. You can get support from your immediate family, your friends, colleagues, and health workers at the rehab center. Support is important because there are times when your motivation is not enough to keep you going. Cocaine addiction recovery can be pretty tough and you’ll need help from others.

You especially need all the support you can get if you are an outpatient. You need family members to keep your immediate environment devoid of triggers.

You need to stay away from friends who still use cocaine. Most times, your will alone cannot achieve this. No matter how “weak” it may seem, you need to seek help. Recognizing the need and asking for assistance is a brave thing to do.

12-step program

You’ll most likely have heard of this from scouring the internet, or from watching a movie with characters dealing with addiction. The 12-step program involves several principles with a clear course of action you need to follow on your journey to and through recovery. These actions have been proven to be effective for others, and if you put in the work, you’ll certainly reap the benefits.

What to Prepare before Going for Cocaine Addiction Rehab

The good news is your search for the average price of cocaine addiction treatment is part of preparing for cocaine rehab. How you prepare for rehab depends on you, and the things you need to put in place. It also depends on the type of treatment you are getting.

What inpatient treatment will require of you certainly differs from what outpatient will. As such planning for both programs will happen through different routes.

Make sure your family and work obligations are sorted

Once you know that the cost of cocaine rehab is worth it, you should put your house and job in order. This may get tricky, especially if you are working in a company that’s not yours.

We can only estimate how long cocaine recovery will take. Hence, it may be difficult for your employers to allow you to take an indefinite leave. But if your employer is considerate and invested in your journey, it’s a possibility.

At your job, you should also try to orientate your potential cover. This also applies to your family. If you have children, you can’t just leave them all alone. You should either get them a caregiver or put them up with a family you can trust.

Bottom-line is that you should make sure family and work are properly sorted before you leave for cocaine rehab. Those are two fewer things to worry about during cocaine rehab.

Sort finances

Before you visit a rehab facility, ensure you have sorted all your financial concerns. You should have the fee for the rehab program. If you are leaving those you are responsible for back home, provide them with the financial resources to thrive without you.

Sorting your finances before leaving also helps you prepare for your return. Imagine completing rehab and next thing you’re dealing with financial issues. Stress from finances and other life issues is one of the main reasons many people indulge in cocaine abuse.

Pack only the essentials

Even if you are going in for inpatient treatment, you shouldn’t pack all of your wardrobe. Even if you enroll in a 3-month cocaine rehab program. You should ensure you only pack essentials. No matter how tempted you are to pack more, don’t.

Take a few clothes and a few other stuff that is in no way related to cocaine or its use. There will be a lot to do in rehab. So, you won’t even have time to use all the things you use at home. You can also go with a couple of books in case you ever get bored.

Relax your mind

Going for rehab changes your daily activities, but you shouldn’t be stressed by this. The cost of cocaine addiction rehab is another reason you can end up stressed. Hence, make sure you are only opting for a facility you can easily afford. When you cut your coat according to your cloth, you won’t be so stressed.

Journal

This is a great way to keep track of your recovery journey. Journaling your recovery journey is more like a letter to yourself. In this journal, you can list your goals and aspirations. You can mark these out whenever you achieve them.

When journaling, you should be as real and in-depth as possible. That’s the only way the details will resonate when you read them later in the future. Mostly, it’s not a major expense. Journaling does not add to how much cocaine rehab programs cost.

The Type of Cocaine Addiction Rehab and Respective Cost

There are two major systems of cocaine rehab you can enroll for; inpatient and outpatient rehab. The care on offer from each program differs, which in turn, influences the cost you’ll incur. Below is an estimate of the cost of different cocaine rehab programs in Toronto.

Cost of Detoxification

As explained above, detoxification is the first step in recovery. If you are an outpatient, this may cost between $1000 and $1500. You should know that as an outpatient, this cost is calculated separately.

However, for inpatients, it is calculated and collated with the other costs. Hence, it’s hard to specify how much inpatients will pain for detox during cocaine rehab.

Cost of inpatient Rehab

The duration of your rehab determines the overall cost of treatment. On average, can spend between 30 and 90 days at a cocaine rehab center. In some cases, the specialist may even require that you stay for a while more. This occurs when you don’t respond to treatment quickly.

For normal centers, the cost of a 30-day rehab program is about $6000. However, for luxury centers, it may be about $20000 for 30 days. If you will be spending between 60 to 90 days in the rehab center, then the cost for normal rehab ranges between $12000 and $60000.

Cost of Outpatient rehab

If your cocaine addiction is not chronic, outpatient rehab is best for you. Because you won’t have to live in the facility, the cost is cheaper. Hence, you’ll be able to find programs of $5000 for three months.

There are, however, some cocaine outpatient programs that cost about $10000. Of course, this depends on the specialist you are consulting with. It also depends on the frequency of your treatment sessions.

Cost of Cocaine rehab medication

Medications for cocaine rehab may cost over $4000. Note, there are cases where you won’t need medication for your treatment. In this case, how much is required to treat cocaine abuse in Toronto will be lower. The overall cost of medication also depends on how long you’ll be using the medication.

Factors that Influence the Cost of Cocaine Addiction Rehab

Several factors influence the cost of cocaine addiction rehab in Toronto. Therefore, when looking to create a budget you need to consider each of these factors in Toronto.

The cost given on this page is simply an estimated average. The exact cost you’ll incur may be lower or more. Only you can find out when you consider these factors.

Type of therapy

There are different types of therapy your specialist may leverage for successful cocaine rehab. In some cases, your therapist may even decide to combine different therapies for you. Hence, you need to first have a proper consultation with the specialist you have in mind.

From the diagnosis the specialist makes, they’d be able to know what will work for you. You should also make sure it’s not a specialist trying to exploit you by suggesting therapies you don’t even need.

The best way to avoid this risk is to check the track record of the facility. Check out reviews online, or find someone that has gotten treated in the facility before.

Medications

At different points of recovery, medications may be administered to you. These come at varying prices. The most critical stage of recovery where you need medication is detox. Remember, you shouldn’t just take any medication. Make sure it’s prescribed by the doctor.

Type of facility

Cocaine rehab facilities come in different forms and classes. Some are outright luxurious, and others are more affordable. You should go to one that fits your budget. You shouldn’t spend money you don’t have, especially since you won’t be working during rehab.

Top facilities feature numerous amenities. The living conditions are considerably better than normal facilities. You may have access to a swimming pool, basketball court, amongst other amenities that can make your stay more enjoyable.

Finding out what amenities are situated in a facility is easy. With quick online checks, you’ll find the information you need. The facilities available directly influence the cost of cocaine addiction services.

Frequency of outpatient sessions

The number of times you have to visit the specialist per week directly influences the cost. As you’ve probably figured, this is only applicable to outpatient treatments. Though most facilities don’t price their services per session, some do. Hence, you need to find out where your facility of interest stands on this.

Extra activities

Recovery is a lifetime journey. Once you are done with the rehab facility, you’ll have to spend the rest of your life preventing a relapse.

Many people relapse during treatment. However, to cope with cocaine cravings, therapists may introduce you to different mechanisms. Most times, these mechanisms will cost you money.

All these little details matter in therapy, and have been proven to be effective. However, being able to keep up with this costs money.

Program length

This is another important factor to consider. If your program extends beyond the standard price option, you’ll have to pay more. More often than not, inpatients may have extended timelines. If the treatment period does not extend beyond 30 days, it’s ‘short-term’.

If you opt for this at the beginning of treatment, you have to be ready to put in the work. That’s the only reason you won’t have to pay more.

Long-term treatments on the other can last 90 days and more. If addiction issues persist after this period, you’ll incur extra costs that will most likely be charged at the standard rate.

Your other health conditions

The cost of cocaine addiction rehab can go up significantly if you have other underlying conditions. Most times, these conditions are discovered during the initial consultation. Common health conditions that therapists have to treat alongside addiction come in the form of mental disorders. This will require further services, which will be charged separately.

How to Afford Cocaine Rehab Cost in Canada

If you suffer from addiction, there is a high tendency that it has somehow affected your finances. Addicts are known to have work-related problems due to addiction.

And since the craving is always so intense, you’ll probably have to overdraft your account to just afford some more cocaine. This act of making poor financial decisions will probably leave you incapable of footing the cost of cocaine addiction rehab. Hence, you may need help.

In Canada, here are the options available to you.

Private Insurance

Most of the health insurance policies out there have extensive coverage. With the help of a lawyer, you should be able to get the insurance company to pay for your addiction treatment. This will not be easy, as insurance companies always hope they don’t get to pay for anyone. A proper lawyer should be able to help you get things running with the company covering your expenses.

You should ensure you go for a professional assessment before you choose a rehab center. This will allow the insurance company to calculate the cost of treatment. It’s after the assessment that the insurance company will help you search for a rehab that meets your addiction needs.

If at all you want to get in conversation with a specialist, ensure you get a pre-approval form. If you find anything confusing, speak with a lawyer.

Related Article: How to Quit Cocaine Addiction

Final Take

Now that you know the cost of cocaine addiction rehab in Toronto, it’s time to put your will to action. Don’t just close this page and go back to using cocaine. You need to take the next steps to sobriety.

Here at 1000 Islands Rehab Centre, we are home to cocaine addiction treatment specialists with the expertise to provide effective treatment. Best of all, we offer affordable pricing packages.

Let’s help you chart a cocaine rehab plan that will address all of your addiction and related issues. Get in touch with us today!

Cocaine Addiction

What to Expect from Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Post author By Addictions Learning Centre
Post date April 23, 2021
No Comments on What to Expect from Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Knowing what to expect from cocaine treatment is vital. It tackles the mental aspect of preparation. It helps you build a stronger mindset that’s unfazed by whatever happens during treatment. This knowledge helps you better deal with the realities of cocaine rehab centers.

Cocaine abuse can be overwhelming. From the usage to addiction, and eventual treatment, it’s all a bunch of stuff your normal self won’t handle well. As regards usage, the burst of dopamine is too much for the normal self to handle. The same goes for addiction and its negative effects. Recovery, as you may have heard, is a lifetime process.

Technically, once you start to abuse cocaine, there is no going back. You can always recover from addiction, but you won’t ever be able to go back to undo indulging in the first place. But if you can’t go back to undo the past, you can change the future. As regards addiction, the positive change you can enact for the future is recovery.

Since you are on this page, it means you are looking for a way out — rehab. This is a good step, as it is the best choice you have. To help you along, we’ll explore what happens during cocaine treatment. This will go a long way to make your eventual recovery process easier.

Everything to Know About Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is highly addictive. However, its use started as a pacifier or natural anesthesia. Cocaine is an extract from the leaves of Erythroxylon coca (E.coca), a plant peculiar to South America.

About a century ago, cocaine was used as part of drinks like Coca-cola. The drink, as of then, contained about 9 milligrams of the substance. Its use transcended nutrition to medicine, where it was first used as an anesthetic during eye surgery in 1884.

Its popularity grew till it was discovered to be addictive. In the century that will follow since its first use, cocaine became widely known as an illegal recreational drug. However, you should know that cocaine is still sometimes prescribed for medical uses.

In the illegal usage world, cocaine has the following names; crack, snow, coke, blow and rock. The reality of illegal cocaine transcends the names given to it. Due to its illegal status, the industry is not regulated. And due to the lack of regulation, you can’t be sure what the product you purchase contains.

What does cocaine do in the body?

The presence of cocaine in the body is a two-edged sword. It comes with increased euphoria and a host of negative impacts. Once you consume cocaine in whatever form you want, it heads into the bloodstream. After usage, the effect of cocaine kicks in about 5 to 30 minutes.

This time-lapse is a function of how fast your blood carries the substance to the brain. With cocaine in the brain, the intensity of activities in the brain increases. So does the release and presence of dopamine.

Naturally, dopamine is that substance released whenever you engage in activities that make you happy and active. It sends a signal to the brain and other areas of the body, with the function of triggering pleasure.

You don’t have to use cocaine to get this feeling. Any interesting activity can help you with this. However, cocaine causes an explosive amount of dopamine to be released. Due to this, you get to a high feeling you’ve never gotten before, and then you want a repeat of it. This is where addiction begins.

However, beyond this release of dopamine for heightened pleasure, cocaine causes a dopamine dysfunction in the body. It causes the chemical to accumulate in between cells. This results in ‘tolerance’. With time, your body gets so used to dopamine that you need a higher amount of it to get high. This condition is what ultimately leads to cocaine addiction.

When addiction gets to a certain point, taking cocaine will no longer be for pleasure. You’ll be taking it to feel ‘normal’. At this point, getting cocaine addiction treatment is the only good you can do for yourself.

Why You Should Get Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Before knowing what to expect from cocaine treatment, it’s best to understand the importance of treatment. Understanding your reason(s) for getting treatment will encourage you through the highs and lows that happen during cocaine rehab.

A concrete reason is motivation to endure the uncomfortable changes you’ll experience during treatment. There are no better reasons why you should engage in a treatment procedure for cocaine addiction than to escape from the health issues cocaine addiction can cause.

Cocaine addiction comes with detrimental effects which can become obvious in the short-term or long term. Here’s what we mean.

Short Term Effects of Cocaine

The degree of what to expect from cocaine treatment depends on how long you have been using the substance. However, no matter how long (or briefly) you have been using cocaine, it’s impossible to escape all of these short-term effects of the substance.

Loss of appetite
Contraction of your blood vessels.
Dilation of the pupils
Increased heart rate
Rapid breathing
Nausea
Distorted sleep pattern
Erratic behaviours
Intense euphoria
Hallucinations
Hyperstimulation
Anxiety and paranoia
Intense craving for the substance
Depression.

This looks like a long list. However, if at this point, you don’t take the necessary steps to mitigate your loss of self, more fatal long-term issues are bound to occur.

Long-Term Effects of Cocaine

The long-term effects certainly make what to expect from cocaine treatment more tedious. Long-term effects develop as a result of continued use extending into addiction and dependence. Example of these long-term effects include:

Permanent damage to the heart and brain’s blood vessels
Increase in blood pressure
Destruction of nose tissues if you use cocaine by sniffing it
Loss of weight and chronic malnutrition
Severe teeth decay
Respiratory failure if you smoke cocaine
Loss of orientation
Psychosis
Frequent indulgence in highly risky behaviour
Abscesses and infections
Liver, lung, and kidney damage
Frequent hallucinations
Irritation and mood disturbance
Severe depression
Tolerance and addiction.

Other known diseases that can result from or are associated with the persistent use of cocaine include:

Hepatitis
Gangrene of the bowels
Heart attack
Seizure
Stroke
Heart arrhythmia
Chest pain
Weakening of the immune system.

The degree of damage that can result from cocaine use gives an inkling of what to expect from cocaine treatment. To reverse this damage, you’ll need comprehensive physical and mental rehab. Sobriety is a lot of work.

Common with addicts is the denial of their condition. Ardent users – addicts – tell themselves and others they can stop using cocaine whenever they want. However, this is so far from the truth. This behaviour precedes the other long-term effects that may result from cocaine addiction.

Beyond making you as a user more frail and weak than ever, cocaine addiction can topple your finances and relationships. Because you are addicted, you’ll start to go the extra mile to get the substance. This may involve stealing from work or your partner.

When all things come crashing, that’s the point most people wake up to acknowledge their addiction. You don’t have to get to that stage before you seek professional addiction recovery help. There are several cocaine treatment centers in Canada with the expertise to help you break free.

Now, a crucial part of knowing what to expect from cocaine treatment is knowing what the various treatments are all about. This is what we’d address in the following section.

Introducing Cocaine Addiction Treatment

The only way out of this woods is recovery. Recovery starts once you agree you are addicted, and begin looking out for what to expect from cocaine rehab. Now, what to expect from cocaine treatment slightly differs from person to person. This is due to the differences in the physical, mental and psychological conditions of every user.

Hence, there is no one-way approach to treating cocaine addiction. Although, there is a template, especially for behavioural therapy. If you are looking to recover, you need to take the next step of reaching out to a specialist. Only a specialist can properly diagnose you, and administer a recovery path.

Unlike other illnesses, cocaine addiction can’t yet be treated by drugs. As of now, there are no approved medications. However, work continues with scientists who are exploring several neurobiological targets.

To treat cocaine addiction, all we have as of now is therapy — behavioural therapy. Behavioural therapy is a term defining the forms of therapy that look to treat mental disorders relating to substance abuse. In simpler words, this treatment looks for a cure from a mental point of view. The ideology of this treatment system is that “all behaviours are learned, and those unhealthy behaviours can be changed”.

Types of Behavioral Therapy – Cocaine Addiction Treatment

The choice of behavioural therapy is at the discretion of the cocaine addiction expert in charge of your health and recovery.

Contingency Management

This has to do with motivational incentives. In contingent management therapy, when you abstain from cocaine, you’ll get rewards. For instance, under this form of therapy, you’ll earn points when your urine tests come back clean. You can then use these accumulated points to get other things you need.

This treatment isn’t always used to treat chronic cocaine addiction. Mostly, it’s used to further patient interest and motivate you to stay in treatment.

Cognitive Behavioral therapy

This is the best treatment process that prevents relapse. One of the core aims of this treatment is to help patients understand what to expect from cocaine treatment, and develop the necessary skills to handle it.

During recovery, you can expect to deal with cravings for cocaine. When these cravings start, developing skills to handle them without relapse is a huge plus.

With cognitive behavioural therapy, you’ll learn and unlearn the behavioural patterns encouraging previous cocaine abuse. Soon, you’ll be able to modify your thought process to prevent these patterns. Another advantage of cognitive-behavioural therapy is that it can be combined with other cocaine addiction treatments.

Inpatient Rehab

This is the type of treatment where you get to live in the treatment facility through the recovery period. How long this cocaine treatment takes depends on how chronic your condition is. Averagely, most treatments in this facility last between 30 to 90 days.

If in this time frame, you don’t get better, the extension you’ll get is at the discretion of the specialist. This type of treatment is important because the environment is controlled, and you enjoy easy access to the specialist in the case of emergencies.

During addiction recovery, you’ll exhibit withdrawal symptoms once you stop using cocaine. These symptoms are better managed under the supervision of a doctor, especially as regards the medications used to suppress the withdrawal effects.

Outpatient Rehab for cocaine addiction

This is the preferred treatment option for most patients. However, this cocaine rehab is effective only when your condition isn’t chronic. Most times, it is also administered to patients who can’t leave their family or jobs alone.

It’s not as intensive as inpatient treatment. You can still get exposed to triggers when you are not with your doctor. This is why the relapse rate is higher with this type of cocaine therapy.

Outpatient treatment is more effective if you are making a transition from inpatient treatment, and you don’t want to enroll in a sober home.

What to Expect from Cocaine Rehab

Cocaine addiction treatment is a journey, one that lasts a lifetime. Of course, you won’t have to pay or sign up at a rehab centre for the rest of your life. However, once you’ve been addicted before, to renounce that status, you need to constantly remain sober. Therefore, you need to prevent a relapse continuously.

As far as treatment at a rehab centre goes, here are summarized descriptions of the cocaine rehab program and factors you should be aware of.

Detoxification

If you’re preparing for cocaine rehab, this is the first step. At this stage, you’ll undergo a medical detox that targets the physical remnants of cocaine in your body. During this stage, you can’t indulge in cocaine abuse.

You can think of this forced change as the weaning of a baby. Cocaine is removed from your body, which you’ll react to via withdrawal symptoms. Up next is the administration of healthy habits and medication to help you cope.

We can liken detox to preparation for therapy sessions that’ll happen during recovery. The remainder of your recovery program will be for the specialist to help you correct the psychological aspects of your addiction.

Cost of Cocaine Addiction Treatment

What to expect from cocaine treatment all depends on the cost. The experience of inpatient treatment differs from that of outpatient treatment. The same goes for the difference between reward therapy and cognitive-behaviour therapy. You should note that treatments are mainly combined, to ensure effectiveness.

But breaking it down, detoxification can cost you between $1000 and $1500. This pricing may be more depending on the cost of medication you’ll need during detox.

Inpatient treatments can cost you about $20000 for 30 days. However, for treatment spanning 60 to 90 days, you can incur between $12000 and $60000. Outpatient treatments are cheaper and cost just about $10000.

Group therapies

If you do not like talking about your struggles in the presence of others, you’ve got some learning to do. Typical days in rehab involve group sessions to complement individual sessions. In these sessions, you get to talk about addiction-related problems you are facing, just like the others. This encourages everyone to stick to recovery and not give up no matter the craving.

Free time

You won’t always be busy with treatment sessions in rehab. You’ll certainly have free time to engage in activities like swimming, basketball, Ping-Pong, soccer, volleyball, yoga and meditation.

However, not all cocaine rehab facilities offer access to this. What to expect or experience at the cocaine treatment center depends on the quality of treatment on offer. This also has a direct impact on the cost you’ll incur.

Support

You are going to need a lot of this. You can’t recover from cocaine addiction on your own. You have to carry your family along. You’d also be getting support from the staff at the rehab center.

You need your family members to hold the fort when you aren’t around. You also need them to give you something positive to look forward to. You also need their support to make sure your home is free of triggers when you get back.

Duration of treatment

How long your treatment takes depends on how bad the cocaine addiction is. It can take as little as a month, and it can extend to six months. One thing you need to have is the will to get better. If you don’t want to get better, there is no way you will.

The specialists will try their best with you, it’s up to you to make it work. Your addiction specialist may need to change your therapy’s approach or medication. Recovery is a continuous discovery process for both you and the specialist-in-charge.

Relapse

This is part of what to expect from cocaine treatment. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 40-60 percent of drug addicts will relapse from their treatment programs.

This is especially common if you are taking the outpatient treatment path. However, you shouldn’t let this stop you from beating cocaine addiction. Relapse is an opportunity for you to learn and get better.

The 12-step program

The founders of Alcoholics Anonymous were the creative force behind this program. It has a simple aim of helping you overcome the problems you face. The average 12-step program offers you a platform to get support and share experiences with others.

The program is widely successful, and you should be ready to take part in it. The best part is a 12-step program also continues even after you are done with rehab.

5 Tips for a Successful Rehab Program

Cocaine addiction recovery is a lifetime journey. From the symptoms of withdrawal that develop during cocaine treatment, to the post-rehab days, these tips will make it all easier on you.

Always be ready to learn
Be ready to be vulnerable
You should make sure your will for treatment is steadfast
You shouldn’t miss a treatment session
Ensure your support system is solid

Most importantly, you should ensure you create a system to prevent relapse.

Related Article: How to Quit Cocaine Addiction

Final Take

Part of what to expect from cocaine treatment is the development of new skills to handle triggers and cravings. Before this, you’ll go through a rigorous detox procedure.

The process of recovery becomes easier when you choose the right addiction treatment center. There are several of them out there, but you need one that puts your recovery needs first, always.

At 1000 Islands Rehab Centre, we are fully focused on how we can contribute to your cocaine recovery journey. Contact us today to discuss your cocaine recovery needs!

Cocaine Addiction

Why You Should Not Attempt Cocaine Withdrawal On Your Own

Post author By Addictions Learning Centre
Post date January 8, 2021
No Comments on Why You Should Not Attempt Cocaine Withdrawal On Your Own

The truth is, cocaine detox can occur in several settings. It can happen at home or in a professional medical detox spa. While it may be tempting to attempt cocaine withdrawal on your own, it may be risky to do it alone. In fact, in most cases, this simple act can be disastrous or even deadly.

Usually, the cocaine withdrawal process may not be physically painful; however, it often comes with preset challenges. Addiction to any drug, including cocaine, will get your system overly dependent on the drug’s effects. As your body tries to adjust to living without it, you’ll experience several different mental and physical effects.

The process where your body decides to adapt to proper functioning without cocaine is known as withdrawal. Your body begins the withdrawal process once there is no more intake substance. Typically, the timeline for cocaine withdrawal starts from a few hours after the last dose.

People who undergo cocaine detox and withdrawal may usually experience a more painful process and dangerous side effects. Most times, you may exhibit an intense slew of psychological and physical side effects. In the same vein, you will have to deal with the cravings that come with this period. So, if you attempt cocaine withdrawal on your own, there’s a high chance of going back to using the substance again.

This is because you’re in your comfort zone with no supervision from a medical professional. As a result, you will find it easy to relapse in a bid to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Furthermore, people with accessory substance abuse disorders may start using other substances while trying to quit cocaine.

Additionally, most people may even abuse alcohol to reduce some of the withdrawal symptoms and side-effects. However, if you attempt to quit cocaine in a medical detox facility, these risks are significantly reduced.

This and many more are the reasons why you should not undergo cocaine withdrawal at home. That is the crux of our discussion in this blog. Here, we will discuss why self cocaine withdrawal is not safe. To further buttress home the point, we will also explore the dangers of self-detox at home.

What is Cocaine Withdrawal?

Generally, withdrawal from cocaine is a condition that starts the moment your drug-dependence ends or reduces drastically. You see, physical dependence increases as your body adapts to the cocaine in your system.

Through this adaptation, your brain will start asking for cocaine to function well and feel normal again. The moment it doesn’t get the substance at the desired level, withdrawal symptoms will commence.

So, cocaine withdrawal is simply a condition describing when a patient stops the use of the substance. At this stage, the production of dopamine often occurs in your brain due to the presence of cocaine. As a result, without cocaine, you will find it difficult to produce this feel-good hormone. This has a spiral effect that manifests in the form of different physical symptoms.

In general, withdrawal from cocaine isn’t as critical as that of alcohol or other drugs. Some substances cause perhaps more deadly effects during the withdrawal and detox process. As a result, we can say that cocaine withdrawal symptoms aren’t life-threatening.

However, physical health difficulties may show up if you used to abuse cocaine along with alcohol. Withdrawal after such a lifestyle may pose a risk to your heart. In some cases, it’s possible to experience seizures during cocaine withdrawal.

If alcohol isn’t a factor, you may develop some depression symptoms like low motivation, energy, or moods during cocaine withdrawal. In rare cases, people may suffer from suicidal ideations during cocaine withdrawal. These are the reasons why addicts going through cocaine withdrawal require support and monitoring during detox. Nearly half of the people who use cocaine suffer from depression. As a result, this side effect may become intense during withdrawal.

Why You Should Not Attempt Cocaine Withdrawal on Your Own

Lately, at-home cocaine withdrawal has been championed as a normal concept. Perhaps, this is due to the slight misrepresentation of the detox process in today’s media.

Detox is arguably one of the most popular topics in our society today. In fact, with all the daily adverts online, prints, and television, you may think detoxing is an easy-peasy process with no side-effects. This rampant notion is both wrong and misleading.

Firstly, the variety of detox products available in the market makes it seem like any form of detox is perfectly okay. However, the reverse is the case when it comes to real-life. For each person, the detox process is different. It is not like going on pills, liquid-formula or other regimen designed to remove the food toxins in the body.

You don’t just want to do a colon cleanse or a DIY procedure to drop excess water or body weight. It’s better for anyone who wants to be free of substance dependence to pursue detoxification through a professional detox facility. There, you’ll get quality detox procedures and 24/7 supervision by medical experts.

Why Self Cocaine Withdrawal is Not Safe

Several detox needs can only be addressed entirely under the care of medical professionals. This is the major reason why you should not attempt cocaine withdrawal on your own. A medical-grade level of supervision and support is crucial if you’re trying to avoid the adverse effects of cocaine withdrawal. As mentioned, relapse is likely, and it can result in overdose and death.

You may not be ready to face the intensity of the symptoms, which can extend into both mental and physical health. Beyond vomiting and nausea, withdrawal can trigger potentially life-threatening conditions, such as seizures, delirium tremens, and cardiovascular problems.

For instance, as many as 30% of people detoxing without sedatives will have a grand mal seizure. Also, there is no way to predict who will experience this side effect. This is because the human body reacts to external substances differently. For you, the cocaine withdrawal process may have been an easy ride. But for others, it may be far more difficult.

Trying to attempt cocaine withdrawal on your own without proper treatment can also negatively affect your mental health, resulting in:

Irritability and anger
Hopelessness
Hallucinations
Suicidal thoughts and depression
Paranoia and delusional thinking
Anxiety

Some of these psychological health symptoms can be so severe that it may threaten you. Sometimes, it can cause potential harm to you or the people around you. This another factor that makes the DIY cocaine withdrawal method very problematic.

Again, the withdrawal symptoms depend on the severity of cocaine usage, as well as your mental and physical health. This is why it is crucial to get a professional evaluation before you attempt cocaine withdrawal on your own.

What to Expect During Cocaine Withdrawal

When you get high on cocaine, you’ll experience a feeling of euphoria and a boost in your mood. These feelings are created by norepinephrine and dopamine.

At this point, the cocaine will make your brain produce these chemicals in abundance. As addiction goes on, your body adapts to the new development and waits to get cocaine before producing these hormones every time. So, once you quit, your body will experience low energy, motivation, well-being, and low mood. This is known as a crash.

Since the brain is not receiving the cocaine as usual again, it tends to “cause havoc”. Hence, you may experience the following:

Anxiety
Intense cravings
Sleepiness
Irritability
Anhedonia etc.

Sometimes, you may become paranoid or suspicious during a crash. You may even suffer from depression or suicidal thoughts. All these are common cocaine withdrawal symptoms during this phase of cocaine withdrawal. However, long-term cocaine users are often at a higher risk of experiencing more severe symptoms.

These symptoms are why you should always go with professional cocaine detox and rehab services.

What Are Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms?

Ultimately, we all have different experiences with drug withdrawal, including cocaine. However, some general symptoms are common with the withdrawal experience.

Here are some of them:

Fatigue

Tiredness or feeling very weak is a common symptom of cocaine withdrawal. Generally, you may feel exhausted naturally after the intoxicating effects of cocaine. Another factor that comes into play is your activities during the time you’re high on cocaine.

Cocaine can disguise the discomfort you often feel during hyperactive moments. However, this usually worsens the feelings of fatigue as the cocaine effects wear off.

Mood Swings

One of the most common symptoms of cocaine withdrawal is mood swings. This second, you’re feeling happy. The next moment, you’re sad and feeling angry unnecessarily. Also, some common symptoms of mood changes include:

Anxiety
Depression
Sensitivity

Even though these feelings are usually intense during withdrawal, they often stop once you pass the withdrawal stage.

Cravings

Most individuals withdrawing from cocaine often experience a strong urge to take more cocaine. If you feel this way, it means you’re experiencing cocaine cravings.

Also, cravings are stimulated by the desire to subdue cocaine withdrawal symptoms. Besides that, it’s also driven by the urge to experience cocaine’s high pleasure again.

These cravings can be intense. In fact, they are a big part of why you should not attempt cocaine withdrawal at home. Without professional monitoring, it will be easy to succumb to your cravings.

Problems With Sleep

One of the difficulties you-) experience during the cocaine withdrawal process is sleeping problems. Despite the fatigue, cocaine withdrawal usually causes sleep problems. Some of the issues you may experience with difficult sleep include:

Insomnia, i.e. having difficulty staying asleep or sleeping at all.
Hypersomnia, i.e. having too much sleep.

How Long Does Cocaine Withdrawal Take?

How long cocaine withdrawal takes vary depending on the individual’s:

Body chemistry
Tolerance level
Severity of addiction
The duration of the addiction.

Although intense, the effects of withdrawal aren’t permanent. The primary phase (crash) of cocaine withdrawal, can differ in intensity and time. Also, it can last from 24 hours to days.

However, like other drugs, cocaine cravings may persist for longer periods. Also, it can still come even after attaining sobriety. Notably, cocaine possesses nearly a short half-life, and cocaine withdrawal symptoms can start as early as 90 minutes after the last dose.

Typically, the cocaine withdrawal process can stretch for a long time. For some, it may only be a few weeks, while for others, it can go on for months. This timeline for cocaine withdrawal is divided into three stages:

Initial Phase

This is a very delicate phase. The time frame in this stage is a maximum of a couple of days. During this period, you may be suffering from intense cravings, weakness, pains and aches. This is one of the reasons why it’s not safe to attempt cocaine withdrawal on your own.

With DIY cocaine withdrawal, you will be short of help, supervision or support. The situation gets worse when you live alone or around people with little knowledge about addiction

Second Phase

At this stage, you’ll feel more relaxed than in the first stage. This stage of addiction withdrawal can last for as many as ten weeks. However, the cravings that come with this phase can also be very intense, just as the body’s general weakness.

Final Phase

Also known as the extinction phase, this final phase is a phase of increased vulnerability. The risk of relapse is high at this stage, especially when there is an exposure to triggers. At this stage, you need more support to keep going on.

However, most of these support systems are available at a professional cocaine detox facility. So, if you’re trying to attempt cocaine withdrawal on your own, then think about the challenges ahead.

Benefits of Choosing Medical Detox for Cocaine Withdrawal

Medical detox can help you safely withdraw from substances with minimal risk of complications. Symptoms like dehydration, increased blood pressure, and seizures can all be life-threatening if the withdrawal occurs outside of a controlled medical environment.

Medical cocaine detox allows you to recover from drug dependence while receiving medical care and supervision. Sometimes, it involves using medication that can relieve and reduce symptoms.

There are several benefits to choosing a medical detox program over attempting cocaine withdrawal on your own. Each one contributes to your sobriety goal and the eventual possibility of quitting cocaine forever.

Here are a few benefits of choosing a medical detox:

It Prevents Relapse

Relapse is a general concern among people recovering from addiction. Not only can it trigger medical and mental health problems. It can also lead to a cocaine overdose.

Going back to what you’ve stopped using, in this case — cocaine, can be risky. Most especially at a time when your body is vulnerable due to detox. In most cases, it can translate into potentially fatal medical problems.

Family Support

One of the topmost benefits of choosing a medical detox is “family support”. Well, it’s no news that getting positive support from loved ones — family and friends during recovery helps boost sobriety. It gives you the necessary positive mindset to stay focused and avoid situations that can trigger a relapse.

Also, your family or loved ones will benefit from the support of a professional detox program. They will learn what to do, what not to do, and how to be your stable support system during cocaine withdrawal. They can also learn about the nature of the addiction, what to expect, how the detox and recovery process works, etc.

Medical Stabilization

When you stop depending on cocaine or crack, usually, you will experience several withdrawal symptoms. In most cases, these withdrawal symptoms can be more difficult if you have underlying mental or physical health conditions. Also, severe and life-threatening acute life-threatening issues that require immediate medical attention may develop.

A professional medical detox program will be able to provide this crucial stabilization. Not just that, the process will also provide ongoing medical monitoring to ensure that you are safe at all times.

Furthermore, the detox centre can also provide medical regulation and changes, medical emergency care, treatment of underlying issues that may increase your safety risk, etc. All of these are reasons why it’s not ideal to attempt cocaine withdrawal on your own. For your overall safety, it’s better to choose medical detox today.

Peer Support

Other residents at a cocaine addiction treatment program can also provide a unique level of support. You don’t have to feel lonely or isolated. Going through your detox procedure at a professional detox centre gives you access to more people like you. People who are going through the same process you’re going through.

Hearing stories, learning from their mistakes and successes, and having someone to talk to when times get rough are all benefits of a professional cocaine detox centre. These people will understand you, hear you out, and you can form a good bond with friends you make there.

Aftercare

Cocaine withdrawal treatment programs often provide aftercare support and referrals. This ensures that you continue to have the ongoing recovery assistance you need to stay sober even after returning home.

For most people, this step in the recovery process is one of the most critical processes. Aftercare provides room for a successful beginning in sobriety to turn into a permanent future.

Make The Right Choice for Detox

Well, the severity of your cocaine addiction, as well as the type of substance used, will determine what type of detox is most appropriate for you. However, the many benefits of professional medical detox show that it’s a better option than to attempt cocaine withdrawal on your own.

Ultimately, detox is invaluable. However, it’s only regarded as the first element of substance abuse treatment. With proper medical detox, you’re opening the door to a thorough recovery journey and full sobriety with little or no faults at all.

Crack cocaine as well as cocaine are dangerous substances and highly addictive. They can destroy your physical and emotional health. Also, the lingering effects of cocaine abuse can increase your risk of suicide, self-harm, and depression. Don’t stop after detoxification and withdrawal — seek help today for cocaine addiction and abuse. Call 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre for addiction treatment programs.

Related article: The Harmful Effects Of Cocaine

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Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine Addiction: The Signs and Symptoms

Post author By Addictions Learning Centre
Post date October 27, 2020
No Comments on Cocaine Addiction: The Signs and Symptoms

There are many signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction. If you abuse the drug, there are chances that you will experience one or more of these symptoms. Sometimes you may not even notice you have these symptoms. And the longer it takes to identify them, the worse it becomes.

However, if you detect these signs early enough, you reduce the risks they pose to your health and wellbeing. This article includes vital information about the various signs and symptoms associated with cocaine addiction. You will also learn more about cocaine addiction and know where to find help if you are struggling with it. There is so much to know, so let’s get started.

What is Cocaine Addiction?

Cocaine is a very popular recreational substance. It is a white powder, usually snorted, injected, or smoked. Some of its effects include mood changes, increased concentration, lowered shyness, etc.

Cocaine also has some adverse effects that users may experience when the drug starts leaving their system. This includes agitation, confusion, irritability, anxiety, etc. Being a potent stimulant, it is very easy for people to get addicted to cocaine.

The drug creates a short but intense high, leaving its users in a state of euphoria. Cocaine users love the drug because of the effect it has on them. Hence, they begin to abuse it, leading to several signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction.

The reason why cocaine users get addicted is that the feeling they get from taking it lasts only a short while. Hence, they take it more often to satisfy their cravings for the drug. However, the more you use cocaine, the more your system tolerates it.

With your body tolerating it and managing its effects, you find yourself taking in more doses of the drug. You do this because you want to feel those effects you want. This only leads to more and more increase in your cocaine dosage. Before you know it, you become addicted to the drug and can do nothing without it.

The fact that you can’t do anything without the drugs is one of the cocaine abuse signs. However, that is not the only problem that comes with cocaine addiction and abuse. Cocaine addiction and abuse lead to many more symptoms, as you will find out in this article. Before then, here are some reasons why the drug can be so addictive.

Why Am I Prone to Getting Addicted to Cocaine?

If you take cocaine, you must know how to recognize cocaine addiction. Most users love taking the drug because of the effects the drug has on them. Hence, they are likely to get hooked on it before even realizing it. One of these effects is the drug’s ability to make you exhibit behaviours different from your normal lifestyle.

For one, you may find yourself doing unusual things you never imagined. Also, the urge to have another dose of the drug will become so strong that you may sell your property for it. You will be driven by the drug and not be in control of yourself. That is how terrible cocaine addiction can be.

Hence, it is important for you to be well aware of these danger signs and know when they begin to manifest. Knowing the dangers that lie ahead with using cocaine may prevent you from indulging in its use.

Factors that Increase The Risk of Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine addiction comes about as a result of several factors. These include genetic background and some environmental risk factors,

If you are from a family or environment with a history of cocaine addiction, you are at risk of developing an addiction issue. However, the fact that you are from such a background or live in a high-risk environment is not a certainty that you will become addicted to the drug.

If you are repeatedly exposed to cocaine, the chances that you will begin to take the drug becomes increased. Other things that may cause you to take cocaine include lack of education, easy access to the drug, and peer pressure. You are also prone to the drug if you reside in an area with a high crime rate.

Some family risk factors for cocaine addiction include poor indiscipline, family conflicts, and relationship problems. Others include poor parental supervision, low income, and poor communication in the family.

You are also at risk of cocaine abuse if you have mental problems like depression. Victims of several forms of abuse may also seek solace in cocaine or other hard drugs.

Early Signs I May Be Abusing Cocaine

Some of the early warning cocaine abuse signs include a change in your mood, functionality or behaviour. If your mood changes rapidly from that of excitement to that of depression, it is an indicator of cocaine abuse. If you suddenly begin to have suicidal or homicidal thoughts or think about doing crazy things, you may have abused cocaine.

Cocaine abusers also show excessive anger. This is especially the case when they are confronted about their use of the drug. They suddenly exhibit a change in their behaviour and change their friends within a short period. Other warning signs include a tendency to steal or manipulate those around them.

Other warning signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction also include a drastic change in one’s physical appearance. This happens due to a drop in personal hygiene. If you abuse cocaine, an early sign of impending trouble is a drop in your functionality. You will have low or no motivation, miss deadlines, and stay away from your friends or loved ones.

These are only early warning signs of cocaine use. If, after noticing these signs, you continue to use the drug, it can lead to more severe signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction. Find out about these signs in the next section.

The Cocaine Addiction Symptoms To Know

The signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction are divided according to the three parts of the body it affects. When you use cocaine, it affects your brain, central nervous system, and other parts of your body. These effects are not the same for everybody. Similarly, several factors affect the way people react to the drug.

These factors include how you take the drug, the amount you take, the effects of the added ingredients in the drug, and its purity. Another factor affecting the impact you will feel from cocaine use is the emotional state you are in while taking it.

Other factors include your physical condition, as well as the regularity in which you use the drug. Let’s now take a look at the effects of cocaine on your whole body, starting with the brain.

Effects on the Brain

When your brain’s response to various chemicals is altered, it is one of the signs of cocaine use. Your brain responds to certain chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid. These chemicals are collectively called neurotransmitters. Most of the complications people face from using cocaine are due to these neurotransmitters.

Cocaine abuse induces these neurotransmitters to work at heightened levels. This leads to common signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction such as the following:

Anxiety
Headache
Confusion
Psychosis
Dizziness
Nausea.

Effects on the Central Nervous System

When you take cocaine, you experience pleasurable effects. These include a burst of energy, excitement, varying levels of euphoria, and increased sociability. You also feel less hungry or tired, have increased strength and mental alertness, and may even feel no pain. It makes you feel superhuman like you are on top of the world.

Other signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction where the nervous system is concerned include:

Talking too much
Laughing
Dilated pupils.
You may also experience nausea
Vomiting
Vertigo
Headache.

These symptoms may progress to emotional instability, lightheadedness, irritability, and restlessness.

Other cocaine abuse signs in the central nervous system include apprehension and tremors. Most cocaine addicts are unable to sit in one place. Mostly, they also have to deal with twitchy muscles. There can also be cold sweats and muscle jerks. Cocaine addicts also experience grinding of teeth, hallucinations, feelings of paranoia, or cocaine psychosis.

There are more serious signs of cocaine use, such as severe headaches, loss of consciousness and seizures. It’s possible to also experience brain bleeding, hyperthermia, stroke, loss of body functionality, and coma.

Once these happen, the person must be taken to an emergency department. Afterward, such a person must begin cocaine addiction treatment immediately. There are many centres for cocaine addiction treatment in Canada. However, you must make sure to choose one that suits your specific needs.

Cocaine Abuse Effects on the Ear, Nose, and Throat

Most cocaine users consume the drug by sniffing or snorting it through the nose. This often leads to them having varying degrees of sinus or nasal symptoms of drug use. These include nasal crusting, frequent nosebleeds, nasal irritation and stuffiness.

Cocaine addiction can cause damage to the mucous membrane of both sides of the cartilage separating your nostrils. This results from the reduced blood supply to the septum, nose picking, crusting, and drying. It eventually leads to a hole in the septum, causing bleeding in the nose.

The nose begins to make foul secretions. A whistling sound can also be heard when breathing, which is known as coke noise.

Effects of Cocaine Use On the Lungs

If you smoke cocaine, you are prone to lung and breathing problems. A brain stimulation known as the head rush results from smoking cocaine due to the lung’s blood supply and large surface area.

If you smoke cocaine in its freebase, crack, or paste forms, you will probably use water pipes, glass pipes, or cigarettes. You do so by heating the pipes with matches or butane lighters.

These pipes, matches and additives you add to the cocaine you smoke, such as marijuana, often leave residues. These residues can cause some severe signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction. Some of these cocaine abuse signs include chronic coughing or chronic bronchitis.

You may also cough up black and bloodless phlegm. This excessive coughing will cause you to experience shortness in your breaths. You may also have chest pain and other breathing difficulties.

Some people smoke cocaine using several smoking techniques. One of these techniques involves them inhaling deeply and holding their breath. They do this to maximize the amount of cocaine they inhale and absorb. However, this is a very dangerous thing to do.

It can lead to lung collapse, causing a sharp pain in the chest. Other symptoms include neck pain, difficulty swallowing food, shortness of breath, respiratory failure, and death.

Problems with the Sympathetic Nervous System

Your flight or fight response is the sole function of the sympathetic nervous system. This is the system responsible for controlling adrenaline in your body. You may experience severe signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction in this system if you continually abuse the drug.

Some of the abuse signs you may have are high blood pressure, a high heartbeat rate, and narrowing of blood vessels. You are also likely to experience a heart attack and chest pain with excessive use of cocaine.

With excessive cocaine abuse, the sympathetic nervous system gets overstimulated. This leads to high blood pressure and rapid heart rates. Cocaine addicts also experience vasospasm, which can lead to death.

Risk of Infections

Persons who use cocaine through injections risk having infections. These infections can lead to a slew of signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction, such as cellulitis, abscesses, and tetanus. Cellulitis and abscesses occur at the sites of injection. Other symptoms include abscesses of the brain and heart valve infections.

These infections occur mainly when the injections used are not sterilized. Cocaine addicts that use this non-sterile form of injecting themselves are also prone to contagious viruses. These include hepatitis B and C, HIV, which they usually incur when they share needles.

Other signs and symptoms include swelling, pain, and redness of the injection site. There can also be nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, jaundice, etc.

Cocaine Addiction Effects on Pregnant Women

It is not good for pregnant women to engage in cocaine use during pregnancy. There are many dangers attached to doing such. Besides the usual signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction, the baby in the womb is also at risk. It can also lead to complications in pregnancy.

Some cocaine addicts use the drug in conjunction with other drugs, nicotine, or alcohol. These practices are dangerous and affect pregnancy adversely. These effects may lead to miscarriage, stillbirths, birth defects, and death.

Risks to Cocaine Smugglers

People who smuggle cocaine also experience signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction. Known as body packers or stuffers, these persons swallow packets of cocaine. They also stuff these packets into some of their body openings. They do this to avoid being detected by security agents at airports or borders.

However, sometimes, these packets can break or leak inside the body. When this happens, the body quickly absorbs the cocaine. The carrier begins to exhibit cocaine abuse signs such as seizures, excess intoxication, and death.

Signs I May Be Addicted to Cocaine

Some of the signs of cocaine addiction revolve around the adverse effects the drug use causes. For instance, excessive use of cocaine leads to a drop in academic or job performance. You will also begin to withdraw from social places and isolate yourself from others.

An addict will also crave the drug more than ever before. This craving can lead to many mental problems and lead to poor decision-making. The craving comes from the need to have the amazing effects of cocaine use.

One way to recognize cocaine addiction is through the withdrawal symptoms you experience. As the drug’s effects begin to wear off, you feel the need to have more of it. There is difficulty in abstaining from the drug, which leads to other problems.

It is already mentioned that cocaine addiction leads to self-isolation. However, it is even more problematic that addicts, despite knowing the adverse effects they face, continue to use it. That is the height of cocaine addiction, despite the numerous psychological problems. At that point, you must find help and do so quickly.

Finding Help

If you notice you are having some of the signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction, you must act quickly to stop it. First, you must realize you have a problem and that you are addicted to the drug. Without that realization, nothing else will happen. Once you accept you have a problem, you begin to take the necessary steps to solve it.

The next step is to find treatment for cocaine addiction in Canada. Research about your addiction and identify some of the cocaine abuse signs you are experiencing. Seek professional help immediately. Based on the level of your addiction, some medications and therapies will help in treating your addiction.

One thing you must note, however, is that cocaine addiction is difficult to overcome. You will experience a lot of challenges along the way. It is not a quick process. Your addiction to the drug did not happen in a day. Hence, your treatment will not be a day’s journey too.

You also need to understand that not every person reacts to treatment in the same way. While some people may overcome their addiction in a month, it may take others years to do so. The timeline of withdrawal and addiction treatment varies according to factors.

These factors include the duration of addiction, the dosage used, and the environment. Other factors include the environment, polysubstance dependence, and presence of other health or mental issues.

Due to the severe nature of cocaine abuse symptoms, it is best to treat it in a facility. Cocaine addiction treatment facilities offer both in-patient and out-patient treatments. In in-patient facilities, the patients reside in the treatment center during treatment. However, out-patient facilities don’t require patients to live in the facility.

These treatment centers help patients to recover from their addiction via several behavioural therapies. These therapies seek to address the root cause of the addiction. They are very effective and eliminate a patient’s dependence on the drug.

Some of these therapies include Contingency Management, CM, which rewards addicts for abstaining from cocaine. It also encourages social interactions and positive thinking.

Another type of treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy, CBT, which focuses on why you are abusing cocaine. It also alters the dangerous ways addicts think that causes them to use cocaine.

We are Here For You

Now, you know the signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction. You are also aware of the dangers that lie ahead if you continue to abuse the drug. You have to take action to stop your addiction.

Contact 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre for addiction treatment programs.

Related article: Common Signs of Cocaine Abuse

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Cocaine Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, Effects

Post author By Addictions Learning Centre
Post date October 23, 2020
No Comments on Cocaine Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, Effects

Generally, cocaine withdrawal can be a difficult process. Cocaine withdrawal symptoms can be of two (2) different classes — psychological and physical symptoms. During a cocaine detox, you may experience different psychological signs and physical effects.

Nevertheless, you must find the right professionals to support your detox in a standard facility. This way, you can easily get through cocaine withdrawal symptoms and plan for real rehabilitation.

Usually, cocaine withdrawal may not be physically painful. However, it often comes with preset challenges. Addiction to any drug, including cocaine, will get your system addicted to the drug’s effects. As your body tries to adjust to the absence of these effects, you’ll experience several different mental and physical effects.

At this period, your body learns to work with the drug in your system. However, this often leads to total dependence on the drug. If you stop drug abuse abruptly, it may cause shock, and hence you’ll find it difficult to adapt without the prescription. Also, you may experience several side effects, ranging from low to high and possibly deadly.

The process where your body decides to adapt to proper functioning without the substance is known as withdrawal. Usually, your body begins the withdrawal process once there is no more intake of the substance.

After reading this article, you’ll understand the different symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. Also, you’ll understand more about what to expect during cocaine withdrawal. Before we dive deep, let’s take a look at what cocaine withdrawal is.

What is Cocaine Withdrawal?

Generally, withdrawal from drugs is a condition that starts the moment your drug-dependence ends or reduces drastically. Also, physical dependence increases as your body adapts more to the cocaine in your system. Through this adaptation, your brain will start asking for cocaine to function well and feel normal again. The moment it doesn’t get the substance at the desired level, withdrawal symptoms will start.

Be aware that a substance like cocaine is very addictive. However, there is a difference between dependence and addiction. Dependence is a cognitive evolution of the body to cocaine. Notably, this evolution of dependence often foretells the origin of physical withdrawal.

In contrast, addiction reveals a failure to quit using a drug despite the personal distress it brings. It’s a lifelong dysfunction of a person’s mental well-being that involves memory, motivation, and reward. Also, addiction is about how your body craves a behaviour or substance most particularly if it prompts an obsessive or compulsive lack of concern over results.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms: What To Expect

Ultimately, most people will have different experiences with drug withdrawal, including cocaine. It’s no rocket science. It’s a function of how our systems respond to the situation or process. However, some general symptoms are common with the withdrawal experience.

Here are some of the common cocaine withdrawal symptoms:

Mood Swings

One of the most common symptoms of cocaine withdrawal is mood swings. This moment you’re feeling happy, but the next moment, you’re sad and feeling angry unnecessarily. Also, some common symptoms of mood changes include:

Anxiety
Depression
Sensitivity, etc.

Even though these feelings are usually intense during withdrawal, they often stop once you pass the withdrawal stage.

Cravings

Most individuals withdrawing from cocaine often experience a strong urge to take more cocaine. If you feel this way, it means you’re experiencing cocaine cravings. It’s common with people withdrawing from addictive substances, including cocaine.

Also, cravings are stimulated by the desire to subdue cocaine withdrawal symptoms. Besides that, it’s also driven by the urge to experience the cocaine’s high pleasure again.

Fatigue

Tiredness or feeling very weak is another common symptom of cocaine withdrawal. Generally, you may feel exhausted naturally after the intoxicating effects of cocaine. However, you may have worsened the effects due to a lack of sleep. Another factor is your activities during the time you’re high on cocaine.

Additionally, cocaine can disguise the discomfort you often feel during hyperactive moments. Tho will worsen the feelings of fatigue as the cocaine effects wear off.

Problems With Sleep

One of the difficulties you experience during the cocaine withdrawal process is sleeping problems. Despite the fatigue, cocaine withdrawal usually causes sleep problems. Some of the issues you may experience with difficult sleep include:

Unpleasant and vivid dreams
Insomnia, i.e. having difficulty staying asleep or sleeping at all.
Hypersomnia, i.e. having too much sleep.

Appetite Increment

Appetite increment is a distinguished phase of cocaine withdrawal. In some cases, it can be intensified by poor eating habits while you are high on cocaine. However, it’s essential to boost your addiction recovery by feeding well and having a healthy diet. For example, eating small but satisfying amounts of food, rather than bingeing.

Physical Agitation or Sluggishness

Another cocaine withdrawal symptom people undergo is sluggishness. Cocaine withdrawal often causes some physical slowing down. This is often known as conversely, or psychomotor retardation. It makes you feel physically agitated.

Effects of Cocaine Withdrawal

Generally speaking, withdrawal from cocaine isn’t as critical as alcohol or other drugs. Compared to cocaine, substances cause perhaps more deadly effects during the detox stage. Be aware that cocaine withdrawal symptoms aren’t life-threatening. Despite this fact, pursuing detox with a professional cocaine addiction treatment center in Canada is the best option.

Additionally, physical health difficulties happen when you abuse cocaine with alcohol. Withdrawal after such a lifestyle may pose a risk to your heart well-being, thus causing a heart attack. In some cases, people tend to experience seizures in cocaine withdrawal.

Generally, you may develop some depression symptoms like low motivation, energy, or mood during withdrawal. In rare cases, people may suffer from suicidal ideations. These are the reasons why addicts going through cocaine withdrawal require support and monitoring during detox. Nearly half of the people who use cocaine suffer from depression. Thus the symptoms become intense during withdrawal.

Other effects of cocaine withdrawal include:

Aggression
Paranoia
Violence

These symptoms make detox dangerous for the person going through withdrawal and those caring for that person. This is one of the reasons why detox programs play an essential role in drug dependence recovery.

Notably, the severity of the withdrawal effects will depend on the following factors:

Consumption amount
Cross abuse of alcohol with cocaine
Duration of cocaine use
Underlying medical conditions

How Long Does Cocaine Withdrawal Take?

How long cocaine withdrawal takes vary depending on the individual and some factors.

The body chemistry
Tolerance level
The severity
The duration of the addiction.
Average Dose Period
Polysubstance Dependence
Environment
Co-occurring medical or mental issues

Body Chemistry

Not everyone reacts to changes in the same way. Hence the way one person reacts to cocaine withdrawal will be entirely different from how another person does. For some persons, it could take a longer time for their body to get used to the changes. Other persons may need a more extended time to adjust.

Tolerance Level

Every person has a different level of tolerance compared to another person. Therefore, the timeline for cocaine withdrawal for one person will differ from one person to another. For some people, it will be easier to tolerate the symptoms that come with it. However, for others, it will be difficult to tolerate, and they will need close monitoring.

The Severity

The severity of the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal you experience will determine the timeline of withdrawal. If you experience very severe symptoms, you will need a longer time to navigate through these symptoms. However, if your symptoms are not so intense, it will take less time to overcome them.

The Duration of the Addiction

The effects of cocaine withdrawal are more challenging for persons who have been addicted for longer periods. Hence, if you have been hooked on cocaine for many years, it will take longer for you to recover from withdrawal symptoms. The same cannot be said about a person with only a few months of addiction.

Average Dose Used

For persons who use large doses of cocaine, the duration of cocaine withdrawal symptoms will be longer than those with mild doses. They will also experience intense withdrawal symptoms compared to those with smaller doses.

Dependence on Polysubstance

If you are physiologically dependent on two or more drugs, you may experience withdrawal symptoms related to those drugs. This will increase your timeline for cocaine withdrawal. It can also lead you to have more complicated symptoms, worsening your detox experience.

Environment

The nature of your environment plays a role in your cocaine withdrawal. If you are in an environment that will cause you to experience stress or fatigue, you may begin to crave cocaine to deal with such things.

The more you find yourself in such environments, the higher your chances of having a relapse. Hence, you may complicate your withdrawal process, making it last longer than necessary.

Co-Occurring Medical or Mental Issues

You will experience more complicated and extensive withdrawal symptoms if you are dealing with other medical conditions. Your cocaine withdrawal duration is extended if you have cardiovascular disease, mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Eating and personality disorders also complicate your recovery.

You may have to treat these issues along with your withdrawal symptoms. This leads to a longer recovery timeline. It’s essential to recognize that the effects of withdrawal aren’t permanent. The primary phase, i.e. crash of cocaine withdrawal, can differ in intensity and time. Also, it can last from 24 hours to a few days.

However, like other drugs, cocaine cravings may persist for longer periods. Also, it can happen again years after attaining soberness. Notably, cocaine possesses nearly a short half-life, and cocaine withdrawal symptoms can start as early as 90 minutes after the last dose.

What to Expect During Cocaine Withdrawal

When you get high on cocaine, you’ll experience a feeling of euphoria and a sealed boost in your mood. These feelings are created by norepinephrine and neurotransmitters dopamine.

At this point, the cocaine will make the brain produce the chemicals in abundance. As addiction goes on, your body adapts to the new development and awaits cocaine to have these effects every time. So, once you quit, your body will experience low energy, motivation, well-being, and low moods. This is known as a crash.

Since the brain is not receiving the cocaine as usual again, it tends to cause havoc. Hence, you may experience the following:

Anxiety
Intense cravings
Sleepiness
Irritability
Anhedonia etc.

Cocaine Withdrawal Timeline

Based on the experiences of many who have experienced the effects of cocaine withdrawal, there are three phases of withdrawal symptoms. These are:

First Phase

This phase, which is also known as the crash phase, lasts between one day and several days. In this stage of cocaine withdrawal, you may experience depression and anxiety. You may also struggle with feeling pleasure.

During this phase, you may appear sleepy and also experience fatigue and hunger. Your cravings for cocaine will also be heightened at this stage. Some persons also experience cognitive problems such as being unable to concentrate and having short-term loss of memory.

Persons with long term cocaine addiction may experience life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include dehydration, seizures, trembling, heart attack, arrhythmia, tachycardia, etc. However, these symptoms are rare and can be managed in addiction treatment centers.

Second Phase

In this phase of cocaine withdrawal, the symptoms may last up to ten weeks. You will continually crave cocaine in this period. You will also be easily irritated, experience fatigue, lethargy, loss of concentration, and memory loss. During this period, your mood swings and physical symptoms will begin to subside.

Third Phase

This phase of cocaine withdrawal is known as the extinction phase. In this phase, your cravings for cocaine are still present. Your chances of having a relapse in this period is also increased especially when you are exposed to triggers.

You may also experience long term issues with mood swings, apathy, and irritability. Many people experience these symptoms for extended periods even after a long time of using cocaine.

One of the things that will help you deal better with this phase is continuous support. It is important for people with more severe withdrawal symptoms to undergo their withdrawal in a rehab facility. This ensures they are always under the care of professionals who will help them manage these symptoms.

How to Cope With Cocaine Withdrawal

When you are undergoing cocaine withdrawal, it is important to use certain self-care strategies. You must also seek professional medical help. The first step in easing the effects of cocaine withdrawal is detoxifying from the drug itself. As you have seen, this process varies in length due to several factors.

Also ensure you are supported by close friends and family members who understand all you are going through. When seeking medical and professional help, be sure the cocaine addiction treatment service you choose is one that meets your needs.

During your withdrawal process ensure you take care of yourself. Your physical and mental wellbeing is very critical at this point and should be priority. Practice healthy living habits, exercise regularly, eat well, and sleep well too. When you do these, you give yourself a better chance of coping better with cocaine withdrawal symptoms.

After detoxing from cocaine, you have to undergo a treatment plan at a cocaine addiction treatment center or rehab. Some of the effective therapeutic treatments available include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

This helps patients recognize the situations that led them to cocaine addiction. It also helps them avoid and cope better with these situations.

Multidimensional Family Therapy

This is developed for adolescents with addiction problems. It helps in addressing things that influence their cravings for drugs and the patterns leading to it. It also helps to improve the overall functionality of the family.

Motivational Interviewing

This increases the readiness of people to change their behaviors and start treatment.

Contingency Management

It encourages abstinence from cocaine by reinforcing positivity.

Can Medication Help With Cocaine Withdrawal

There is presently no medication used for easing withdrawal or easing your crave for cocaine. There are some drugs such as Modafinil and some antidepressants which help to alleviate the discomforting symptoms you may experience from withdrawals.

Other symptom-specific drugs include Benadryl and trazodone, which help you deal with insomnia. However, before you use any drug, ensure a doctor prescribes it to you. Never take a drug without a doctor’s prescription.

FAQs About Cocaine Withdrawal

Here are some answers to some common questions about cocaine withdrawal.

How Long Does Cocaine Withdrawal Last?

If you are withdrawing from cocaine, one question that will go through your mind is “How Long Does Cocaine Withdrawal Last?” You must understand that the duration of cocaine withdrawal symptoms depends on the individual.

However, the cocaine withdrawal timeline usually starts almost immediately following the last dose of cocaine used. It can persist between 8 days to 7 or 8 months. Nevertheless, mental health signs can persist much longer than physical symptoms.

Is Cocaine Withdrawal Safe?

Another question people ask about cocaine withdrawal is “Is Cocaine Withdrawal Safe?” You must understand it is safe to withdraw from cocaine. Being addicted to the drug is not good for your health and deciding to be sober is one of the best decisions you can take.

However, due to the effects of the drug on your system, you will experience various degrees of withdrawal symptoms. Hence, you will need supervision and support in these times to deal with your symptoms. With that, you will navigate through the withdrawal process easier than going it alone.

Can I do cocaine withdrawal at home?

Cocaine is one of the few drugs anyone can quit anytime because of its short half-life. However, doing it alone without support may not be the best and safest option. During cocaine withdrawal, you need full support and care from friends and family and addiction treatment professionals.

Conclusion

Cocaine withdrawal can be challenging, but attaining sobriety is possible. Unfortunately, people tend to have problems quitting cocaine because of the severity of cocaine withdrawal symptoms.

Most people tend to suffer from intense cravings during cocaine detox. However, the intensity of the cravings depends on the duration of cocaine usage and consumption amount.

Furthermore, cravings can promptly hijack the addiction recovery process, thus resulting in a relapse. This is why having a support system that includes medical professionals, family, and friends can help overcome the challenges. Contact 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre for addiction treatment programs.

Related article: Common Signs of Cocaine Abuse

Tags Cocaine Withdrawal

Cocaine Addiction

How to Stop Cocaine Addiction

Post author By Addictions Learning Centre
Post date August 11, 2020
No Comments on How to Stop Cocaine Addiction

If you must understand how to stop cocaine addiction, you need to know what cocaine actually is. The drug is also referred to as benzoylmethylecgonine, or coke if you’d rather not bite more than you can chew. It is gotten from coca leaves and can alter a person’s brain function after a while of consistent use. Above all, cocaine is an incredibly addictive drug.

Unfortunately, despite the dangers to your health, you can’t just “turn off” a cocaine addiction. More often than not, you need a series of consistent actions alongside professional help if you must win the battle against coke. However, as challenging as it may be, it is not entirely impossible.

To prove that to you, we’ll be sharing a few insights on how to stop cocaine addiction in this article.

How Do You Stop Cocaine Addiction?

You should know that there isn’t any “ultimate” guide to stop taking cocaine. Of course, you can still go to the internet to learn how to stop cocaine addiction. However, in reality, everyone’s situation is peculiar, and what works for Jerry may leave Tom stranded in a bind.

Alongside that, due to its brain-altering capabilities, stopping cocaine abruptly can really hurt you. As such, at some point, the chances are that you may need professional cocaine addiction rehab. Nevertheless, you should still give yourself a head start on the journey by following these five tips for getting rid of cocaine addiction:

Inform those who matter about your decision to quit cocaine

We understand that this part might be a bit difficult. It’s even worse if you promised your loved ones that you’d quit before only to relapse later. But it is still necessary. You cannot learn how to stop cocaine addiction or even implement these tips if you choose to go through the journey alone. So, you must inform someone about your decision to quit.

It really does not have to be a lot of people. As long as they’re understanding and they are truly invested in helping you change, they should make your list.

As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid people who will judge every chance they get or try to invalidate your struggle. Even if they mean well, they may end up doing more harm than good.

When you inform your loved ones about your decision to quit cocaine, ensure that you let them know that you want them to actively assist you in the journey. This is because you need to remain accountable to someone if you must quit cocaine abuse.

What you’ll gain from following this tip is a reliable support system. They’ll check in on you every now and then to monitor your progress. Alongside that, they’ll help if you fall/falter and assist in getting you back on track.

Modify your habits and social circles to fit your new goal

This tip regarding how to stop cocaine addiction is arguably one of the most important of them all. Don’t understand why? Well, let’s break it down from the first half.

Usually, when you’re very inclined to do something, it doesn’t happen in isolation. It often comes with a habit that you’ve built over time. For example, some people can hardly go through a movie without a snack, and some can’t eat without watching something. This may not be so bad compared to cocaine addiction, but you should get our point. In their case, the movie is tied to the meal and vice versa.

In the same vein, taking cocaine may be tied to some of your habits. Do you find yourself snorting every time you down a bottle of alcohol? Have you built a doping habit around your study periods to help you remain alert/efficient?

When you identify those habits that bring you back to the white, powdery arms of cocaine, you need to modify them. Adjust or eliminate those habits so that you don’t have to go back to being a user.

Concerning the modification of your social circle, it’s not very likely that you’re a solo doper. So, if you have friends that induce your snorting, you may want to reevaluate those friendships. While it might be challenging, you can start by politely turning down invitations to hangouts with the friends you used to do cocaine with.

Fill up your schedule

When you’re still figuring out how to stop cocaine addiction, your worst enemy is idleness. This is because you’re likely to go back to cocaine when you have nothing meaningful to do.

When your mind is less busy, it begins to wander. Except when asleep, this fact rings true for everybody. When your mind starts its random journey across different memories or scenarios, it may accidentally stop by at the last time you snorted coke. You’ll feel a little tingle in your nose.

Gradually, the urge to go back to coke will start creeping in. It keeps growing until it’s much harder to ignore than the initial tingle. Eventually, you may find yourself using it again.

To prevent all these from happening, just do something else. When you keep your mind occupied with another activity, you’ll be less likely to start thinking of coke or craving it. A few activities to try include exercising, volunteering where necessary, doing chores, etc.

However, if you want to go a step further, you can discuss with a professional who can help you learn how to stop cocaine addiction. They’ll be particularly helpful in assisting you to come up with a strategy to make those activities a part normal routine.

Find inspiration in other people

Conquering an addiction is an incredibly serious business. The stakes are even higher when the addiction you’re dealing with is something as strong as cocaine. In fact, it requires an effort that leaves most people feeling overwhelmed.

One way you can get over this overwhelming feeling is by getting some inspiration from other people. We don’t think we need to try too hard to convince you that you’re not the first person who has had to deal with a cocaine addiction before. There have been many others before you, and you can read about them or listen to them at will.

Among other things, even if you don’t know them directly, their stories will give you strength. Different things work for different people. But, seeing how other people were able to pick up their lives instead of letting cocaine be their end can work wonders for you.

Surfing the web for their stories may not be the best idea, though. Our two cents on the issue is that you should join a support group. There, you’ll see humans like yourself who are making progress in their journey against your common foe.

Understand and handle what’s causing your addiction

All these points on how to stop addiction are pretty effective if you follow them properly. We have no doubts about that. However, if you don’t discover and deal with what caused the addiction in the first place, you might not achieve much.

You see, this situation is like wanting to cut down a tree because it attracts way too many snakes for safety. You can cut off its branches for as long as you live. But, they’ll merely grow back prettier, and maybe even stronger. The only way to take care of the problem is to remove the tree from its roots.

So, if you’re learning how to quit cocaine, figure out why you started in the first place. Did you do it to get away from negative emotions such as depression or uncontrollable anger? If so, you may need to see a therapist so you can learn how to handle those emotions better.

Did you do it to get away from all the chaos at home? You have to deal with that too. Did you do it out of a need for validation from your friends? You’ll have to deal with that feeling of inadequacy as well. Whatever the cause, if you don’t deal with it, you might end up going back to cocaine.

Potential Challenges While Trying to quit Cocaine

If you’re wondering how to stop cocaine addiction, you should know the potential pitfalls. The major things you’ll have to deal with are withdrawal symptoms. This is where professional help comes into play.

Depending on how far gone you are, your body may not be able to handle losing cocaine so abruptly. So, you may experience such withdrawal symptoms as depression, exhaustion, mild to intense cocaine cravings, hallucinations, imbalanced appetite, etc.

In Conclusion

Learning how to stop cocaine addiction takes gut and a determination to make positive changes. However, the real work comes when you have to put what you’ve learnt to practice. At that point, you’ll need consistency, determination, and all the support you can get. Contact 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre for addiction treatment programs.

Related article: How to Quit Cocaine Addiction

Tags Cocaine Addiction, How to Stop Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine Withdrawal: What To Expect

Post author By Addictions Learning Centre
Post date August 11, 2020
No Comments on Cocaine Withdrawal: What To Expect

Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant. Due to its impact on the central nervous system, cocaine withdrawal can be highly unpleasant. This substance generates a euphoric high and an energy rush in anyone who uses it.

Furthermore, it is popular as a recreational drug because it creates a feeling of confidence. Shy people become sociable. Anxious students are able to endure exams; overwhelmed executives can get through a long day of gruelling work. But as cocaine withdrawal sets in, the user starts to experience unpleasant symptoms, such as confusion, depression and exhaustion.

This drives them to seek out more of the drug. The deeper the individual falls into the pit of cocaine addiction, the more uncomfortable the cocaine withdrawal symptoms become.

The Dangers Of Cocaine Abuse

Regular long-term use of cocaine can have serious repercussions on your physical, mental and social health. By seeking cocaine addiction treatment sooner rather than later, you can reduce these impacts and set yourself on the path to a healthier, more positive life.

The risks of cocaine abuse include the following:

High blood pressure, irregular and/or rapid heart rate, and cardiac arrest
Stroke
Kidney failure
Mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression
Paranoia
Mood swings
Aggression and/or an increased propensity for violent behaviour
Inability to manage relationships and/or finances
Increased risk of HIV and hepatitis from the use of shared needles
Increased risk of respiratory disease from ingestion through smoking
Sores and blisters around the nose and mouth from ingestion through snorting
Collapsed veins and track marks from intravenous use

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms And Timelines

Cocaine withdrawal comes with some uncomfortable symptoms that may make this difficult. These appear at different phases of the withdrawal process and vary in severity from one person to the next. Typically, what to expect from cocaine withdrawal is based on

The individual’s original state of physical and mental health
The circumstances surrounding their addiction
Whether any other substances are involved.

When exploring what to expect from cocaine withdrawal, there are three major timelines to this process.

The crash

The crash happens 24 hours or less after a period of sustained cocaine use ends. Many addicts who are in this phase are not intending to quit: they are simply caught in the cycle of cocaine use.

For those who are attempting to quit, this phase presents a high risk of relapse, as the discomfort of the withdrawal symptoms may drive you to seek out more of the drug.

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms that happen during this phase include:

Lack of energy
Deep depression and a sense of demotivation
Hunger
Anxiety
Irritability and agitation
Fatigue

Withdrawal

The second phase of cocaine withdrawal starts a few days after the last use of the drug, and it can go on for as long as ten weeks. The risk of relapse during this phase remains high, largely because of the persistence of symptoms.

If you begin to feel as if this feeling will never end, it’s possible to seek escape by using the drug. Symptoms that you may experience during this phase include:

Depression, anxiety and paranoia
A persistent sense that all is not right with the world
Difficulty concentrating
Intense cravings
Mood swings
Fatigue and low energy

Extinction

Once you reach this phase, your risk of relapse is significantly lower. Although extinction can last for up to six months, it is marked by a gradual but steady decline in the severity of most withdrawal symptoms.

You may continue to experience some cravings, and depression, while improved, may linger. Some individuals experience post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS), which is marked by the persistence of impulse control difficulties.

Is Cocaine Withdrawal Dangerous?

It is important to understand the withdrawal risks of any substance before abruptly stopping the use. Some substances such as alcohol and certain opioids can have potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.

Although cocaine withdrawal can be uncomfortable and frightening, it is generally not dangerous. However, some circumstances can create a higher risk.

If you are addicted to both alcohol and cocaine, withdrawal from either one – or both together – can result in cardiac arrest
If you have a condition that makes you prone to seizures, you are more likely to have seizures during withdrawal, and these can result in injury
For some people, particularly those with preexisting mood disorders, cocaine withdrawal can lead to serious depression. This carries a risk of suicidal intent, suicide attempts and self-harm. This is exacerbated in cases of polysubstance abuse.
One of the signs of cocaine withdrawal is an increased tendency to behave in a violent manner. This puts the cocaine addict at risk of harm, but it also increases the risk for other people.

How To Stay Safe Through Cocaine Withdrawal

Medical Detox

Cocaine withdrawal treatment is available through medical detox. Through this process, the cocaine user is supervised by medical professionals while the cocaine is working its way out of the system.

Medical detox can accomplish the following:

It allows for immediate treatment of withdrawal symptoms as they arise
The patient is kept safe and as comfortable as possible throughout the withdrawal process
The patient is protected from the immediate risk of relapse
A cocaine addiction treatment and rehab plan is formulated in preparation for the end of the detox

Although most medical detox is done on an inpatient basis, some people are able to withdraw from cocaine at home. Then, they attend medical appointments to monitor progress.

In order for this approach to be safe and effective, the patient must have no access to cocaine or any other substance. Also, they should have a strong support network consisting of family members and close friends.

Management Of Cravings

If you choose not to attend an inpatient or outpatient cocaine withdrawal treatment program, there are still some steps you can take to manage cravings:

Ensure that your other lifestyle habits, such as nutrition and exercise, are strong enough to support you through the rigours of withdrawal
Have someone you can call if you are in immediate danger of relapse
Develop healthy habits and hobbies that you can use to distract yourself from cravings – for example, go for a walk, do some gardening, or take art classes
Create new routines to end associations with cocaine use
If possible, avoid the people and places associated with your use of cocaine
If you used cocaine at home, reconfigure the space to make it new
Avoid all substances – not just the one you are addicted to

If you do suffer a relapse, try not to be too hard on yourself. Relapse during the early stages of cocaine withdrawal is extremely common. However, it does not represent failure. Instead, it is a temporary setback that you can learn from and move on from.

Medication

Medication for cocaine withdrawal treatment should not be considered without prior consultation with your doctor. Although no medication has been developed to minimize withdrawal or reduce cravings, some medical relief may be available for specific withdrawal symptoms.

For example, if you are already undergoing medical treatment for depression, your doctor may temporarily adjust your doses for the duration of your withdrawal. Some sleep aids with low addiction potential may also be used to treat insomnia.

What Comes After Cocaine Withdrawal?

Cocaine withdrawal is an important first step to recovery. It gets the cocaine out of your system and gets you past the period during which your risk of relapse is at its highest. Most important, it sets you up for the next phase of your recovery: cocaine addiction treatment and rehab.

During this phase, you will be guided through the process of delving into the causes that lie beneath your addiction. Together with an expert, you can explore topics such as trauma, bullying, bereavement, or stress that comes with a major life event. By resolving certain issues, you can develop techniques for coping with those that you can’t.

The most effective cocaine addiction treatment programs are ones that are customized to the needs of the individual. Everyone is unique, and no two addiction journeys look the same. It is important to account for these individual differences in treatment.

Treatment programs can include a combination of methods and modalities, including:

Group, individual and family therapy
Creative therapies such as art, music and dance
Yoga, meditation and mindfulness training
Life skills training
Nutrition and exercise coaching

At 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre, we don’t treat addictions, we treat human beings. We do not see you as someone with a substance abuse problem. Instead, we see substance abuse as a symptom of deeper issues that are affecting your life.

Under our gentle, compassionate guidance, you can find your way out of addiction and on the road to a happy, healthy, productive life. To get started, call us at 855-601-0555.

Tags Cocaine Withdrawal

Cocaine Addiction

How to Quit Cocaine Addiction

Post author By Addictions Learning Centre
Post date July 15, 2020
No Comments on How to Quit Cocaine Addiction

If you’re reading this, the odds are high that you have finally realized the negative toll that cocaine use is having on your life, and you want to quit. This realization is very vital as it is what will push you to go through cocaine addiction treatment. Finding out how to quit cocaine abuse is the first and essential step to living a life free from an addiction to the substance. In light of this, we are happy to tell you that you are on the right path!

Cocaine is easily one of the most dangerous and addictive substances out there. Although it is illegal in many countries, including Canada, many people still practice recreational cocaine use. Sadly, most of these people become addicted to the substance.

If you or your loved ones fall into this category, the good news is that you can get help for cocaine addiction. In this article, we will provide you with helpful tips on how to quit cocaine abuse.

Kicking your addiction to cocaine may be tasking as the withdrawal symptoms can be quite intense. So, we recommend seeking professional help to ensure that your cocaine addiction treatment and recovery goes as smoothly as possible.

In light of this, we will also give you some insight into the best treatment options for cocaine addiction. Read further to find out the best ways to stop cocaine abuse.

Why is Quitting Cocaine So Hard?

Many people struggling with how to quit cocaine abuse usually have a lot of questions. Why can I recreationally use cocaine for a short while and then become unable to control myself? What causes the change between my occasional thrilling use and my now compulsive use? How can it be so hard not to use cocaine? Can I get rid of cocaine addiction?

These are all very valid questions that countless others before you have asked. The process of quitting cocaine has the potential to be difficult, painful and mostly uncomfortable.

This is because of the effects that long-term cocaine use has on the brain. To help you understand the process of cocaine addiction treatment, we will show you how it affects your brain.

Cocaine explicitly targets the limbic system in the brain. This is the part of the brain that controls the feelings of reward and is highly effective in making you happy. Due to this, with continued use of cocaine, you will continually seek these feelings of pleasure. This makes it extremely difficult to kick your habits of using cocaine.

Furthermore, the continuous use of cocaine will cause your body to develop a physical dependence on the substance. This means that your body forms a compulsive need for cocaine to sustain normal functions.

At this point, if you try to stop, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms can vary from simple to intense, depending on how long you’ve been using.

The mental and physical impressions of cocaine on you are what make its addiction hard to treat. Also, these factors increase the risk of a relapse. However, despite all these, cocaine addiction treatment is, IN FACT, possible. In the next few paragraphs, you will discover proven tips on how to quit cocaine addiction.

Tips on How to Quit Cocaine

Cocaine addiction treatment is never comfortable. This is why you need all the help you can get to kick to your cocaine addiction. We have compiled some vital information on the best ways to stop cocaine abuse. Bear in mind, we are not saying it will be smooth sailing all through.

By following the following strategies, you may just be giving yourself the best chances of dropping cocaine for good. At the very least, these tips will point you in the right direction. Here’s how to quit cocaine abuse.

Figure out why you want to quit

Undoubtedly, numerous health risks come with using cocaine that should be enough to make anyone stop. However, these reasons may not be enough for you. You need to figure out your reasons for wanting to know how to quit cocaine abuse.

Many people want to get clean to get back with their family, while others want to become better versions of themselves. Whatever your reason may be, you must identify it. This reason will become the fuel that pushes you through your cocaine addiction treatment when it gets tough, as it likely will.

Create a plan for yourself

The next important step you need to take in your journey to freedom from cocaine addiction is to create a plan. A well-tailored plan will go a long way in keeping you on track. In the timeline you create, you must address your short-term goal of successful withdrawal.

Furthermore, you must also plan for your long term goal, which is recovery. Here are a couple of things you should keep in mind when creating your cocaine addiction treatment timeline.

Prepare for the symptoms of withdrawal
Decide how to deal with stress
Create a plan for avoiding things or people who can lead you to use again

Related article: Common Signs of Cocaine Abuse

Build a support system

One of the best ways to stop cocaine addiction is to create a support system of people who can encourage you to achieve your goal. A reliable support system can make the difference between a successful cocaine addiction treatment and a relapse.

Most people choose to surround themselves with their loved ones – close friends and family. It goes without saying that you have to alert these people that you are trying to quit cocaine.

Your support system is critical to ensuring that you have adequate care and motivation during your addiction treatment. So, if you do not want to tell your loved ones, you may invest in anonymous support such as Narcotics Anonymous or Cocaine Anonymous.

Get busy

Our next tip on how to quit cocaine abuse is this – fill up your days. If you are going to drop a habit, you should find a more healthy replacement for it. Otherwise, the void that it leaves can cause idleness, which can lead you right back where you started. The same thing applies to cocaine addiction and its treatment.

Idleness can give you time to reflect on your memories, which can then cause more cravings. To prevent this, we recommend that you rearrange your schedule.

Moreover, cocaine cravings are short-lived. They typically last between two and three hours. So, if you can find a way to pass the time, or exhaust yourself until you nod off, you will likely wake up without cravings.

Fill your day up with activities that you like, such as exercise and safe socialization. You may even pick up a new hobby or complete an unfinished home project.

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

The lifestyle that you lead goes a long way to influence your journey through quitting cocaine for good. As such, you must ensure that you do your best to live as healthily as possible. This includes adequate rest, regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Exercise facilitates the release of natural ‘pleasure’ chemicals in your brain, thereby helping you reduce cravings. Also, a regular schedule for sleeping and waking will help your body recover faster from cocaine use. Besides, a healthy diet promotes brain function and helps your body regenerate. It all works together to help you quit cocaine abuse.

Identify your triggers

Knowing how to quit cocaine addiction is all about understanding what triggers your use in the first place. Once you can identify your triggers, you are well on your way to living a cocaine-free life.

Make a list of these triggers and then plan how to avoid them. This way, even if you are unable to prevent them, you’ll be prepared to deal with them. Your triggers may include objects, people, places or situations. So, think deep, identify them and, most importantly, avoid them!

Enroll in a treatment centre

For our final tip on how to quit cocaine abuse, admit to a professional cocaine addiction treatment facility. While it is possible to discontinue cocaine use on your own, it is usually a painful, not to mention dangerous, process.

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms can sometimes be intense and life-threatening. This is why we recommend going through your detox at a professional facility.

At an addiction treatment centre, you’d have access to a team of medical experts and psychologists to help you through your withdrawal. Also, they can provide medication to help reduce the intensity of your symptoms if need be. Or help you ensure that your mind is in the right state to pull through.

The option of Professional Cocaine Addiction Treatment

At our cocaine addiction treatment facility, we have a variety of treatment options available for you.

Inpatient treatment program – You live in our treatment centre while going through recovery.
Outpatient treatment program – You enjoy inpatient services, but you do not have to live in the facility,
Individual therapy program – One-on-one with our addiction treatment professionals
Group therapy – You enjoy the benefits of therapy but with a group of people with similar goals.
Twelve-step support groups

Take-Home

Cocaine addiction is deadly and a real pain to kick. However, drug-free life is achievable and within your grasp. With a combination of professional help, the right support system and tips on how to quit cocaine addiction, you can indeed kick your habits. Call 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre for addiction treatment programs.

Related article: The Harmful Effects Of Cocaine

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Cocaine Addiction

The Harmful Effects Of Cocaine

Post author By Addictions Learning Centre
Post date June 29, 2020
No Comments on The Harmful Effects Of Cocaine

As a young college student, Jessica (not her real name) started to sell small quantities of cocaine here and there to help pay her bills. She didn’t see the harm: she was not using herself, and the tiny amounts she was selling were not exactly keeping the drug industry alive. She was not even a drop in the cocaine supply pool.

It didn’t take long for her occasional selling to become a very lucrative business for her. She was able to finance her college tuition, plus cover her rent and living expenses – and still have plenty of money left. But then, when she became involved with one of her customers, it all came crashing down.

For the first time, she started to use the drugs she was selling: within a year, she had abandoned her studies, her friends, and all of her interests. Her supplier, fed up with not being paid, dragged money out of her and then cut her off. She was evicted for not paying rent, and after a brief stint living with an abusive boyfriend, she ended up alone on the streets, relying on prostitution for survival.

Jessica’s story may be unique – all stories about drug addiction are – but what many of these stories have in common is how quickly the lives of the addicts fall apart.

It is sometimes said that in order for a cocaine addict to get help, they have to reach rock bottom. But this is a dangerous stance because, for many people, rock bottom means death. The sooner we can reach an addict and help them get into a program of cocaine addiction treatment, the better. Because the longer it is left, the more damage can be done.

Harm #1: Cocaine Is Extremely Addictive

What makes cocaine appealing to its users is that it generates a rush of energy and euphoria within moments of consumption. All of a sudden, fatigued people have the energy to get through a busy day, and those with social anxiety have the confidence to not only endure but actually enjoy a party.

The problem is that these effects are short-lived, and users are driven to consume more cocaine in order to recreate those feelings. But in order to achieve the same levels of euphoria and high energy, higher doses of the drug have to be taken, with less time between doses.

Harm #2: Cocaine Damages Physical And Mental Health

Even short-term use of cocaine can cause a lot of damage. It raises the body temperature and constricts the blood vessels, causing the heart rate to shoot up. If a large dose is taken, the user may start to act erratically. Uncharacteristic violent behaviour is sometimes attributed to the feelings of panic and paranoia that often come with cocaine use.

Those who use cocaine regularly over an extended period of time are at risk of several damaging effects, including the following:

A tendency to neglect nutrition, resulting in rapid weight loss, increased propensity for illness, and organ failure
Damage specific to the method of ingestion: damage to nasal tissues (snorting); lung damage and an increased risk of respiratory complaints (smoking); track lines, collapsed veins and risk of infection from shared needles (intravenous use)
Cardiac risks: elevated heart rate; high blood pressure; ruptured blood vessels; stroke; cardiac arrest
Difficulty breathing
Seizures
Depression
Anxiety and panic attacks
Paranoia
Reduced sense of judgment, resulting in potentially risky behaviour without regard for danger
Risks during pregnancy: Premature delivery; delivery of babies with low birth weight; delivery of babies born addicted to drugs
Cocaine carries a high risk of fatal overdose

Related article: Cocaine Withdrawal: What To Expect

Harm #3: Cocaine Is Not Always Just Cocaine

Because cocaine is an illegal street drug, there is no cocaine available that is legally produced. It is made in laboratories that do not follow any health and safety standards. Furthermore, unscrupulous manufacturers often combine or “cut” the cocaine with other products in order to increase their profits. Some of these additional ingredients – examples include chalk, baking soda and detergent. Not only does this pose additional risks to the user, but it can also be difficult for first responders to treat cases of accidental overdose.

Harm #4: Cocaine Can Ruin All Aspects Of Your Life

One thing that cocaine addicts quickly discover is that cocaine use is very expensive to maintain. As we saw in Jessica’s story, cocaine addiction can very quickly lead people down a path of financial devastation. The precise outcomes of this vary from person to person.

Some addicts are abandoned by loved ones who can no longer tolerate them lying and stealing to support their addiction. Others end up in jail for illegal activity. Divorce, job loss, bankruptcy, and loss of children to the child welfare system are all common outcomes of cocaine addiction.

Harm #5: Cocaine Withdrawal Can Be Dangerous

It is very difficult to stop using cocaine, because the withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable at best, and downright dangerous at worst. Many addicts who try to quit on their own suffer relapses fairly quickly because they just cannot handle the cravings and sensations that happen when the body is suddenly deprived of a substance it has come to rely on.

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:

Intense cravings that may lead to anxious, agitated behaviour
A tendency to be exhausted even after mild physical activity
Muscle aches, nerve pain, chills and tremors
Depression and anxiety, that may be accompanied by suicidal thoughts and actions

Cocaine Addiction Treatment

The sooner an individual gets help, the less damage their cocaine abuse symptoms will ultimately do, and the more likely they will be to repair their relationships and reclaim a life that is positive and productive.

Cocaine addiction treatment starts with medical detox, a process whereby the addict is medically supervised during withdrawal. This keeps them safe and comfortable as the last of the drugs leave the system.

Detox is followed by a program of cocaine addiction treatment and rehab, during which the addict is guided through the process of exploring areas of their life that may have contributed to the addiction. Addiction treatment varies from person to person and often involves a combination of group, individual and family therapy, along with exercise programs, nutrition coaching, life coaching, creative therapies and other modalities.

What Happened To Jessica?

Jessica’s story has a happy ending. After coming face to face with the frightening probability of her own death, she pulled together the courage to talk to her family. With their help – and after several relapses – she was finally able to achieve lasting sobriety. She is an example of the fact that it is never too late to get help.

Call 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre for addiction treatment programs.

Related article: How to Quit Cocaine Addiction

Tags Cocaine, Cocaine Abuse, Cocaine Withdrawal

Cocaine Addiction

Common Signs of Cocaine Abuse

Post author By Addictions Learning Centre
Post date June 25, 2020
No Comments on Common Signs of Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine is a very addictive substance. As a result, the signs of addiction are easy to spot. However, for people mired in the quagmire that is cocaine addiction, spotting the signs may be difficult. Most of the time, what starts off as a harmless act can quickly spiral into a life-threatening issue with vast consequences in terms of work, relationship and physical health.

As a controlled substance, cocaine can be classified as a stimulant for the central nervous system. It boosts energy levels while also increasing blood and heart rate levels. In addition, it also floods the system with dopamine, increasing feelings of pleasure. In fact, this attribute is why the signs of cocaine addiction are easy to ignore for an addict. Typically, the focus is always on the pleasure that dopamine brings with the negatives sidelined.

Mostly, the signs that you need cocaine addiction treatment are there regardless of the mode of consumption. Some people snort cocaine. Others choose to smoke crack cocaine or place it in certain orifices. Regardless of which method is used, cocaine addiction comes with severe symptoms.

Thankfully, with cocaine addiction treatment, it is possible to get your life back on track. However, you have to be able to recognize the signs of cocaine abuse. This way, you can make a decision on whether to get professional help.

The Signs of Cocaine Abuse To Look For

The symptoms below may be an indicator that you or a loved one is abusing cocaine:

Dilated pupils
Constant loss of appetite
Extreme overconfidence
Extreme paranoia
Legal issues due to cocaine use
Issues at work due to indulgence in cocaine
Unpredictable mood swings
Frequently sniffles and a runny nose
Financial problems caused by cocaine-related expenses
Irritability
Depression

The signs above are easy indicators that it’s time to get cocaine addiction treatment. However, there’s more to it. Another common sign that cocaine usage is getting too much is chest pain. Constant cocaine usage constricts blood vessels. Consequently, this stresses the heart as well as the cardiovascular system. It’s a symptom of cocaine addiction that you need to know. In fact, the risk of getting a heart attack doubles as much as 12 times after you use cocaine.

Cocaine comedown

Another of the recognizable signs of cocaine addiction, a comedown, occurs when you suddenly stop indulging. A comedown is a type of withdrawal. However, since it’s unintentional, getting a quick fix may seem like a simple solution.

Nevertheless, a comedown is often an indication of a bigger problem. Usually, it may mean an increased dependence on cocaine. Some of the common symptoms of a cocaine comedown include feelings of depression, irritability, anxiety and extreme tiredness. Additionally, it comes with really strong cravings.

Cocaine psychosis

One of the signs that you need cocaine addiction treatment comes in the form of psychotic feelings. Some symptoms of cocaine psychosis include paranoid delusions as well as seeing things that aren’t there. As a frequent user, if you or a loved one notices that you’re hearing things that are not there, it may be time to find where to get cocaine addiction treatment.

Cocaine psychosis is very real. Studies show that as many as 68% of cocaine abusers experience this condition. Usually, it is associated with severe dependence as well as taking higher doses of the substance.

Symptoms of cocaine abuse by snorting

The most common method of using cocaine, snorting the substance comes with its own set of telltale signs. Therefore, if you’re worried that you or a friend may be doing cocaine, here are symptoms to look out for.

Nosebleeds
A runny nose
Loss of the ability to smell (temporarily)
Difficulties swallowing
Frequent cold-like symptoms

Mostly, these symptoms are caused by chemicals added to the substance by dealers. In the same vein, it constricts nasal blood vessels, cutting off vital oxygen supply.

Related article: The Harmful Effects Of Cocaine

What are the Long-Term Effects of Cocaine Addiction?

If you are wondering whether to get expert cocaine addiction treatment near you, perhaps knowledge about the long-term effects can serve as a pointer. Some of them include:

Weight loss
Severe malnourished look
Sexual dysfunction
Movement issues that resemble Parkinson’s disease
Damage to vital organs
Reproductive problems

A good number of the long-term effects of cocaine addiction are internal. As a result, they are not a great pointer to the signs of cocaine abuse. However, the threat is very real. In addition to the above, cocaine can cause a serious increase in blood pressure. Furthermore, it may thicken vital muscles thereby increasing the possibility of heart failure.

What are the Symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal?

When people that are addicted to cocaine run out of the drug for one reason or the other, they experience what is known as withdrawal. Cocaine withdrawal is caused because the body is craving the euphoric feelings of a high. Majorly, it comes with irritability, mood swings and depression.

Other symptoms of cocaine withdrawal include the following:

Fatigue
Tremors
Hunger
Intense cravings
Sleeping issues
Issues focusing on tasks
Thinking delays

Severe withdrawal symptoms are a part of the signs of cocaine abuse. In addition, they can lead to dangerous health issues and problems. Therefore, it is critical not to go it alone. The best option is to seek expert assistance from addiction treatment professionals near you.

How To Get Expert Help For Cocaine Addiction

As mentioned earlier, the best way to get rid of cocaine addiction is to seek expert help. Addiction experts can use a wide variety of treatment techniques to combat the issue. Contact 1000 Islands Addiction Rehab & Treatment Centre for addiction treatment programs.

Related article: How to Quit Cocaine Addiction

Tags Cocaine Abuse