Cocaine: it’s a drug with a reputation that precedes it. From Scarface to Cocaine Bear, the drug has long played a prominent role in Hollywood and larger pop culture.
The portrayal of the drug in pop culture has often verged on glamorization, but there’s nothing glamorous about cocaine addiction. Cocaine abuse can lead to a variety of health complications, including cardiovascular issues and sexual dysfunction.
In this article, we’ll talk about cocaine symptoms, how long cocaine stays in your system, and cocaine addiction treatment.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug derived from the leaves of the coca plant, which is native to the Andean region of South America.
Cocaine comes in two main forms:
- Cocaine Hydrochloride — A white, powdered substance that is commonly snorted, injected into the bloodstream, or eaten. This is the most popular type of cocaine found on the street, and it is commonly referred to as “coke” or “blow.” There are lots of slang terms for cocaine that make it confusing for some.
- Crack Cocaine — Cocaine that has been processed to form a rock crystal, which is then heated to produce fumes that are smoked. The term “crack” refers to the crackling sound made by heated rocks. Crack cocaine is highly addictive and provides an intense and quick high.
Due to its high potential for abuse, Cocaine is classified as a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act. If you suspect a loved one of showing cocaine symptoms, read on to learn more. And know that help is available.
Get confidential help from our addiction treatment specialists in Orange County. Call to join our rehab program today!
Call 866-881-1184What Are the Most Common Symptoms of Cocaine Addiction?
Symptoms of cocaine addiction can manifest in a variety of ways. Identifying cocaine addiction early can be essential in helping someone get the treatment they need.
Here are some common physical cocaine symptoms:
- Dilated pupils
- Nosebleeds
- Weight loss
- Increased energy and alertness
- Insomnia
- Motor Tics or tremors
- Neglect of personal hygiene and appearance
Mental symptoms of cocaine use include:
- Mood Swings
- Anxiety — Because cocaine is a stimulant, anxiety is a common cocaine symptom.
- Depression — As the effects of cocaine wear off, individuals may experience depression and lethargy.
- Drug-seeking behavior
People who abuse cocaine may exhibit increasingly risky behavior, have money or legal issues, or isolate themselves from friends and family. Remember, just because someone exhibits a sign of cocaine addiction doesn’t necessarily mean they are using the drug.
Recognizing cocaine addiction in oneself or others can be the first step toward seeking help and recovery. It is important to approach this topic with sensitivity and understanding, as addiction is a complex disease that affects individuals in many different ways.
If you suspect that someone is struggling with cocaine addiction, consider reaching out to a healthcare provider or a support group for guidance and assistance.
How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your System?
Cocaine has a relatively short half-life, which means it can be metabolized and eliminated from the body fairly quickly. However, the exact time frame can depend on a variety of factors including the amount of cocaine used, the individual’s metabolism, and the type of drug test used.
Here is a general guideline for understanding the timeline for cocaine detox:
Cocaine Detox Timeline
- Immediately After Use: Cocaine levels peak in the bloodstream about 30 minutes after last use, diminishing over the next few hours.
- Two-to-Twenty Four Hours After Last Use: The initial crash period begins, characterized by a significant drop in energy, mood, and motivation. Intense cravings for more cocaine often set in during this period, and individuals may suffer fatigue, increased appetite, and difficulty concentrating or sleeping.
- Two-to-Seven Days After Use: Withdrawal symptoms continue to intensify during this period, with depression, anxiety, and irritability can become more pronounced. Individuals may also experience mood swings, agitation, and a sense of emptiness.
- One-to-Three Weeks After Use: Cravings for cocaine may persist, although they generally begin to decrease in intensity. A person at this stage may continue to struggle with depression, anxiety, and fatigue. However, sleep patterns may start returning to normal.
- Three-to-Five Weeks After Use: By this point, most withdrawal symptoms should start to subside. Energy levels, motivation, and emotional stability should improve gradually.
After roughly a month, most people shouldn’t show any more symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. However, some may still experience occasional cravings. This is where ongoing support and therapy become important.
Looking for quality substance abuse treatment that’s also affordable? South Coast accepts most major insurance providers. Get a free insurance benefits check now.
Check Your CoverageWhat Are Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms Like?
Like many other drugs, stopping cocaine use may come with symptoms of withdrawal. These symptoms range in severity depending on the depth of cocaine use disorders.
Common cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Cravings
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Vivid Dreams
- Increased Appetite
- Irritability
- Anhedonia — Diminished ability to feel pleasure
- Sleep Disturbances
- Mood Swings
Cocaine withdrawal is not typically life-threatening in the same way that withdrawal from some other substances (e.g., alcohol or opioids) can be. However, the cocaine withdrawal symptoms can be very distressing and may lead to relapse if not managed effectively. For this reason, cocaine addiction treatment is a good idea.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment at South Coast Behavioral Health
If you or a loved one are seeking treatment for cocaine addiction, South Coast Behavioral Health is here to help. Our treatment options for co-occurring disorders can help anyone overcome their struggles with drug abuse. Cocaine use disorder treatment can help cocaine abusers get clean once and for all.
The first step in treating chronic cocaine addiction is a medical detox. This means using drugs to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Our medical detox program in California is staffed by caring and compassionate professionals who can provide you with medications to manage your withdrawal symptoms.
At South Coast, we take pride in offering care closely tailored to specific issues. To that end, we offer gender-specific detox programs, with medical detox for men in Irvine, CA, and medical detox for women in Huntington Beach, CA.
After detoxing, proper treatment can begin.
Treatment for substance abuse takes place along an entire spectrum of care. Along that entire spectrum are various behavioral therapies, support groups, and medically-assisted treatment (MAT).
These levels of treatment are, in order, as follows:
Residential Treatment in California
After completing medical detox, you’ll move to receive inpatient treatment in Orange County California. There, you’ll receive medically-assisted treatment and dual diagnosis treatment to deal with any cravings or co-occurring mental health issues you may be battling.
We also offer residential treatment facilities in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Huntington Beach for those who desire gender-specific treatment. There, patients get round-the-clock medical attention and monitoring while living at the center full-time.
In addition to individual and group counseling and medication management, you’ll also have access to leisure activities and family support services.
Partial Hospitalization in California
Most clients start substance abuse treatment with South Coast in our residential treatment program. After completing that, many desire something that still provides structure and support, but with extra space and time to oneself. For that, we offer Partial Hospitalization in Newport Beach.
A step down from inpatient care but with more structure than conventional outpatient programs, partial hospitalization offers a good balance for those looking to ease back into normal life. Clients can receive care five to seven days a week for several hours each day, returning to their homes in the evening.
This way, they can recover without putting their daily lives completely on hold, receiving intense therapeutic interventions like group and individual therapy, skill development, and medication management as necessary.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment in California
For those leaving inpatient residential treatment or partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are yet another gradual step forward on the road to recovery.
With a focus on group therapy, individual counseling, and education, clients undergoing Intensive Outpatient Treatment in Newport Beach can meet three to five days a week. Each session lasts three hours.
This level of care requires the least amount of attendance at a facility.
Start Today
The risks associated with cocaine use are significant. Noticing a sign of cocaine use should raise serious red flags. If you or a loved one are struggling with cocaine addiction but wonder how long addiction treatment takes or have other questions, call us at 866-881-1184. Our highly qualified staff will be happy to help give you an idea of what to expect from your addiction recovery timeline, verify your insurance, and assist with any other questions you may have. Our recovery centers can help you overcome a substance use disorder and move on to a life of sobriety and happiness. Contact us today and learn about cocaine abuse recovery.
