Cocaine Addiction: 5 Ways to Treat Addiction to Coke

Substance abuse and addiction are global threats affecting diverse age groups. Several countries are trying their best to control substance addiction by formulating several strategies. Cocaine is one such substance that affects almost 5.2 million people in the United States (US) alone.

At present, scientists and researchers are into inventing different treatments for cocaine addiction. As drug addiction is associated with physical, mental, and social problems, people should get enrolled in professional treatment centers to recover completely.

Scroll through this article to learn about the harmful effects of cocaine abuse and the best treatments for cocaine addiction.

Effects of Cocaine

Before knowing the treatments for cocaine abuse, one should know the effects of the drug that need to be treated. This has been discussed as under.

A few short-term effects of cocaine addiction are:

• Heightened sensitivity to sound, touch, and sight

• Decreased appetite

• Behavioral issues such as anger, agility, irritability

• Paranoia

A few long-term effects of cocaine addiction are:

• Seizures and delirium

• Headaches

• Heart attack

• Stroke

• Tremors

• Contaminated diseases (for example, HIV or Hepatitis from infected syringes)

• Diarrhea

• Nosebleed

• Runny nose

• Loss of smell

If these effects persist in an addict, they should go for proper treatment and detoxification.

Best Treatment Methods for Cocaine Addiction

The top 5 treatments for cocaine addiction treatments are discussed below:

#1: Medical Treatment

Medicines are extremely important in detoxing the body from the harmful effects of cocaine abuse on the human body. Substances like cocaine create a euphoric state in the mind by increasing the secretion of neurotransmitters in the brain. Besides, they also numb the receptors of brain cells and block normal brain functionality.

This is why people need medicines that can alleviate the harmful effects of cocaine abuse and reduce withdrawal symptoms. This helps the body to eventually return back to normal functioning. Cocaine addiction medication includes the following.

Propranolol

Propranolol is a beta-blocker which helps treat hypertension and angina. This medicine is highly efficient in controlling and reducing cocaine withdrawal symptoms. It is also helpful in reducing the effects of sudden adrenaline rush from cocaine intake. Thus, it creates a sense of calm and reduces restlessness and anxiety.

Baclofen

This medicine is used for relapse prevention which activates the GABAergic neurons. Activation of GABAergic neurons decreases dopamine secretion in excessive amounts. Thus, it reduces cocaine cravings and reduces the harmful effects of cocaine abuse.

Topiramate

Topiramate is effective in GABA and glutamate neurotransmission. Both of these are helpful for managing cocaine relapse symptoms and help to reduce their effects on brain cell receptors.

Tiagabine

Tiagabine is an excellent medicine to treat cocaine dependence. This medicine also helps to reduce euphoria and is very effective during seizures. Further, tiagabine also helps in managing drug cravings and a patient in abstaining from cocaine.

#2: Psychological Treatment

Behavioral issues are quite evident with any substance abuse. Especially at the time of withdrawal, people start to show significant behavioral and psychological issues due to the sudden drop in the secretion of neurotransmitters.

So, they need to be under complete psychological care to heal several behavioral issues. The approaches to treat behavioral issues are as follows:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT

It is a psychotherapeutic treatment that helps treat unnatural and disturbing thought patterns to control extreme behavioral disorders. This treatment is focused on changing negative thoughts, emotional difficulties, anxiety and depression.

Further, CBT also helps to enhance the skill of problem-solving and provides motivation to a drug abuser in learning new things. Thus, CBT is considered as one of the most effective treatments for cocaine addiction.

Contingency Management Therapy or CMT

Contingency Management Therapy works on the principle of rewarding. That means addicts get rewarded for being sober, and by continuing this process, they gradually return back to regular life. This is one of the most effective therapies for any type of drug abuse and addiction.

In this process, psychologists and therapists motivate addicts toward a more creative and healthy lifestyle.

Motivational Interviewing

Motivational interviewing is one of the most effective treatments for cocaine addiction that influences an abuser with the right motivational approaches. As the therapy follows the principle of motivation, it effectively helps drug addicts to overcome adverse situations in their journey to recovery.

Couples and Family Therapy

Couples and family therapy is another effective therapy for every person struggling with cocaine addiction. This is because a person addicted to cocaine tends to lose healthy relationships with friends and family due to addiction. Further, they also do not get the right form of support from their family members when it is highly needed.

If not solved at the right time this issue often delays recovery from cocaine abuse and addiction. Thus, couples therapy is extremely beneficial to strengthen relations and family bonds. Furthermore, family therapies are especially impactful for adolescent drug abusers.

#3: Natural Treatments for Cocaine Addiction

One of the treatments for cocaine addiction is to follow natural practices and home remedies, for example, ayurvedic treatment, maintaining a healthy diet schedule etc. This is discussed as under:

Herbal Medicine

It is clinically proven that different herbal medicines have a significant effect on addiction. They can reduce the symptoms of addiction and the severity of drug withdrawal symptoms efficiently. However, physicians may suggest herbal supplements which are complementary to medical and psychological treatment.

Eating Nutrient-Rich Food

Eating nutrient-rich food items such as fruits, whole grains, vegetables, farm-fresh produce, and nuts can help boost the pace of recovery. A balanced diet strengthens our immunity and helps the body fight the adversity of drug addiction.

Daily Exercise

A moderate amount of exercise done routinely can be beneficial to fight cocaine addiction. It is helpful in various ways. First, exercise makes the human body strong from the inside. Secondly, it can help calm a patient’s urges by distracting them from drug abuse. Additionally, exercise helps release endorphins that help to reduce the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal.

#4: Staying Connected to Family and Social Life

Staying close to family and loved ones can be a natural way to treat drug abuse and addiction. A supportive family can boost positivity in an affected individual and reduce triggers of drug abuse. Further, it also helps to manage psychological issues during withdrawal symptoms.

#5: Holistic Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

The holistic approach refers to a complete process of treatment that includes medicinal, societal, psychological, and familial treatments. This is one of the most efficient treatments for cocaine addiction, as it helps one to completely recover from addiction. Some holistic approaches to treating cocaine addiction are as follows:

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis aims to treat any mental illnesses associated with a drug abuse disorder. This is extremely beneficial because it can reduce loneliness and motivate people to follow up with the treatment procedure. An authorized cocaine abuse and addiction center is the perfect place where one can get dual diagnosis treatment for holistic recovery.

Drug Counseling

Drug counseling is a mandatory treatment for cocaine addiction. Substance abuse can cause extreme depression, which can gradually turn to one having suicidal thoughts. Thus, people should be under close monitoring and drug counseling programs to fight depressive moods and other complications.

Cocaine Addiction Prevention Treatment

The count of cocaine abusers worldwide can be reduced by preventing addiction. The preventive measures for cocaine addiction are as follows.

Identifying the Triggers

There are several triggers for drug and cocaine abuse. For example, persistent stress can trigger a person towards cocaine abuse. Again, traumatic life-event, social abuse and pressure, etc., can also make people lonely and vulnerable to addiction. Genetics is another trigger that affects individuals. Thus, caregivers should be very cautious about the triggers of cocaine abuse in order to prevent their loved ones from being addicted.

Diagnosis at the Right Time

As soon as a person starts to show symptoms of addiction, caregivers should identify them and take them for a proper diagnosis. This diagnosis process includes a blood test, urine test, saliva test, and other methods. Identifying the drug abuse at the right time can help to prevent addiction from progressing into more severe stages.

Education on Drug Addiction

Comprehensive guidance on making people aware of the harmful consequences of drugs is a part of preventing cocaine addiction. For teenagers who cannot control their emotions and become prey to addiction, education on drug abuse is crucial.

Cocaine Addiction Risk Factors

The potential risk factors of cocaine addiction are:

• Weakened immunity

• Cocaine Overdose

• Pulmonary diseases

• Cardiovascular diseases

• Gastrointestinal disorders

• Poly-drug abuse

• High blood pressure

Reducing cocaine abuse problems is possible if people opt for the right treatment in the initial stages of addiction. However, it is quite challenging for caregivers to identify the symptoms of drug abuse in the initial stage. Once identified, proper monitoring and treatment for cocaine addiction are mandatory to prevent the abuse from progressing to fatal stages.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a cocaine overdose?

A cocaine overdose refers to the overconsumption of cocaine over a specific time period. This can cause severe health complications, including choking, increased heart rate, extreme euphoria, appetite loss, chest pain, stomach pain, seizures, etc.

How can people intake cocaine?

Addicts can intake cocaine in several ways. They can chew, swallow, inhale, smoke, snort, and inject cocaine.

How long can cocaine withdrawal last?

Generally, cocaine withdrawal can last from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. However, withdrawal symptoms and how long these symptoms will last depend on factors like physical condition, the severity of addiction, etc.

What are the different forms of cocaine?

Cocaine comes in different forms like crack, coke, snow, and rock. Usually, cocaine comes in the form of fine, white powder which is either sniffed in or made as a solution for injecting it.

How dangerous is cocaine addiction?

Cocaine addiction is life-threatening as it leads to critical issues like heart problems in an individual. It also causes recurring symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, etc. So, it is better to visit rehab for cocaine addiction to treat all possible complications.

Written by

Brian Moore

Content Writer

Reviewed by

Jeremy Arzt

Chief Clinical Officer

January 17, 2023