Welcome to the beginning of your journey to recovery from cocaine, arguably the most addictive substance on the planet. It’s among the world’s most popular recreational drugs. Over 500 tons of cocaine are seized every year worldwide. Also, every year, one in five fatal drug overdoses involves cocaine. Over 16 Americans die every single day from cocaine use. If you or someone you know abuses or is addicted to cocaine, it stops now.
This is a comprehensive article that takes you through the signs and risks of cocaine abuse and will show you how to recognize them in order to help someone in need. We’ll also cover what withdrawal from cocaine can be like, and, finally, what detox from cocaine entails. Read on to learn, but call us RIGHT NOW at 1-866-210-1303 if you need immediate assistance.
Recognizing Cocaine Abuse & Stepping In
There is no way to safely use cocaine. Regardless of what you read, what you hear, or what you think, cocaine is extremely dangerous, whether it’s the first of the fiftieth time doing it. Now may be the time to step in, intervene, and being the process of helping if you or anyone you know is abusing cocaine, at any level.
Of course, you can step in and help yourself too. As with all illicit substances, abuse can soon lead to addiction. One line of cocaine could be fatal. What high could possibly be worth that? Call us now at 1-866-210-1303 to learn more about what you can do.
Stepping in and intervening when it comes to someone we know has a problem is never an easy thing to do. We love these people, and we do not want to hurt them, but we love them enough to know they are hurting themselves, and perhaps at a deadly rate. In such extreme cases, professional intervention is recommended. When it comes to trying to help someone you love, keep these tips in mind:
- Do not call the person an addict or even accuse them of being an abuser.
- Do not demand the person seeks help. Simply state your concerns.
- Encourage the possibility of help, but do not be forceful.
- Maintain the rapport you already have with the person. Acting differently will likely arouse suspicion.
- Avoid trigger words, such as ‘blow’, ‘coke’ or ‘cokehead’.
Withdrawal from Cocaine (and Timeline)
There’s good news here. Traditionally, withdrawal from cocaine is not as harsh as withdrawal from other drugs. The symptoms tend to be more psychological than physical. Still, it’s no walk in the park. The withdrawal process tends to last between 7-10 days, and withdrawal symptoms can set in as early as an hour and a half after the last usage. Also, there are no FDA-approved medications specifically for cocaine withdrawal.
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Appetite swings (loss of while intoxicated, gain of while sober)
- Body chills
- Cravings
- Depression
- Difficulty focusing
- Motor Impairment
- Muscle aches and/or headaches
- Fatigue
- Night terrors
- Anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
To reiterate, these symptoms are much more likely to occur, and much more likely to be worse, if an addict stops using without help. It’s absolutely necessary for a cocaine addict to begin the path to recovery safely, and the right way. The first step, as mentioned, is detoxification, commonly called detox, which SAFELY and effectively REMOVES all traces of cocaine from the body.
The Timeline of Withdrawal:
Everyone is different, and this means withdrawal will be different for each recovering cocaine addict. However, generally speaking, the timeline of cocaine withdrawal can be broken down into three phases we like to call Crash, Crave, and Cut-Out.
Phase One: Crash
This phase lasts from the moment you sober-up from cocaine until about 2 or 3 days afterward (provided you don’t use any more during these days). Any addict knows this is the most severe period of withdrawal. Some or all of the above-mentioned symptoms kick into full-gear fast. You’ll probably be an irritable, hungry, sleepy and short-fused mess of a human. Cocaine only stays in the system for up to 24 hours after use, so the crash phase approaches quickly.
If you want to quit cocaine, the crash phase is the best time to do so. Why? Experts will make your transition into sobriety as comfortable and smooth as possible.
Phase Two: Crave
Left untreated, this is just as bad as the Crash phase, except that it can last up to three months. For cocaine addicts, phase two means desiring and thinking about more cocaine on a pretty much constant basis. The irritation continues, this time accompanied by lethargy and an inability to concentrate. Once again, this is all assuming that you’re not using any cocaine along the way.
Trying to quit cocaine (or any illicit drug) on your own is an uphill battle. Fighting through the craving phase of withdrawal alone is next to impossible. The vast majority of addicts who want to quit yet don’t seek help will relapse during phase two. Put simply, it’s not too hard to make it through for a few days on your own, but it’s really hard to make it through for a few months. Call us now at 1-866-210-1303 if this rings true with you for yourself or someone you know.
Phase Three: Cut-Out
If you’ve made it to this phase alone, you’re among the few. However, in general, this phase consists of beginning to let the cravings go entirely. They could always return, and we all know life tends to throw us triggers or temptations now and again. But if you’ve gone three months without cocaine, you can go the rest of your life.
About Cocaine Detox
Cocaine is one of the most addictive and harmful drugs. Cocaine abuse is at an all-time high in the United States and people are seeking help to stop. Cocaine is a highly addictive, potent drug that offers a powerful, intense high. Many who use cocaine recreationally become chemically dependent, with long-term and life-threatening consequences.
Even occasional users run the risk of sudden death with cocaine use. The high achieved from cocaine is short-lived, causing a state of depression and exhaustion after. This typically results in a binge and crash pattern, where individuals will continue to abuse the drug to avoid the negative consequences. Although cocaine dependence is a challenging addiction to overcome, with proper treatment, recovery is possible.
People who are addicted to cocaine feel cravings for months, even years after quitting. Detox from cocaine is a process which requires committing to a detoxification program which will help promote long-term sobriety. Detox patients require 24/7 care and a safe and comfortable setting for them to detox in. Cocaine detox symptoms are typically psychological and behavioral so it is important to take this into consideration when detoxing.
What to Expect During Cocaine Detox
For patients detoxing from Cocaine, it is important to address the psychological consequences of their addiction. Our clinicians begin with a comprehensive evaluation of each client to generate a working knowledge of their medical history, history of abuse as well as their personal well-being and psychological condition. Part of the initial health assessment involves a physical examination, including a visual screening of the patient. Once the initial health assessment is completed, our clinical staff members work with our client to establish an effective treatment plan. Triggers, which can range from objects, situations, places, or emotions, can spark cravings. Understanding and recognizing specific triggers will aid in the recovery process.
Taking the first step and seeking help is critical to reducing the large amount of damage done by substance abuse. The continuum of treatment and comprehensive care offered here ensures the ability to surmount physical aspects of addiction. This achievement will promote the confidence necessary to begin building the tools essential to successfully engaging in long-term addiction recovery.
Why It’s Important
Cocaine’s highly addictive nature makes it a challenging drug to sustain sobriety from, and it’s potentially dangerous side effects make it one of the leading causes for emergency room visits. Cocaine will increase heart rate and blood pressure and constrict arteries which supply blood to the heart. This can cause heart attack, even in young people without a predisposition for heart disease. Cocaine also triggers an abnormal heart rhythm or arrhythmia and will constrict blood vessels in the brain, causing strokes. These effects can also happen in young people who have no other risk factors for strokes.
Chronic cocaine use can impair sexual function in both men and women. Seizures and bizarre or violent behavior are side effects, as well as sudden, overwhelming kidney failure. In individuals with high blood pressure, regular cocaine use will accelerate long-term kidney damage and heart problems caused by high blood pressure. It’s important not to minimize cocaine substance abuse, and to seek the necessary treatment which promotes a healthy and promising future free of addiction.
Conclusion: Be Warned. Dealers Lace.
Cocaine is one of the easiest drugs to manipulate. Fentanyl is one of the most popular drugs used to lace others. Cocaine can be deadly, but fentanyl is essentially a death sentence. There has been a steady rise in laced cocaine confiscated and/or tested in recent years. You may have heard someone say something along the lines of wanting a batch with fentanyl in it. Well, it’s not a joke. Fentanyl is up to 100x more potent than pure heroin. Just a few grains of pure fentanyl can kill a full-grown adult human. If you or anyone you know is using cocaine, addict or not, now is the time for help. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Now.