What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that has been used in the United States since the late 19th century. Stimulants speed up the activity in your brain and central nervous system.
Cocaine comes in several forms:
- Powder — This is the most common form of cocaine. Some street names for it include “snow,” “coke,” and “blow.”
- Freebase — A fat-soluble, solid form of cocaine that is highly potent. The main nickname for freebase is “base.”
- Crack — Solid rock crystal, hence its street name of “rock.” It’s cheaper than powder cocaine.
Regardless of how it’s consumed, cocaine is highly addictive, making cocaine detox and treatment a difficult process.
Cocaine’s addictiveness lies primarily in the powerful high it produces – here are some characteristics:
- Euphoria
- Heightened sensitivity of touch and sound
- Increased sociability, confidence, and aggression
- Increased mental alertness
With increased cocaine intake, side effects can include increased body temperature and heart rate, convulsions, impaired breathing, and mood disorders. Those who abuse cocain long-term can expect sleep issues, liver damage, and cognitive problems due to brain atrophy.
Due to its high potential for addiction, cocaine is classified as a Schedule II substance. This article will discuss cocaine addiction and the importance of cocaine detox.
Is Cocaine Addictive?
Yes, cocaine is highly addictive. It’s is a potent stimulant that significantly boosts dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This sharp increase leads to intense, yet short-lived feelings of euphoria.
Due to the transient nature of its effects, individuals often start consuming more and more cocaine to keep their high. Over time, as the brain starts to rely on cocaine to feel pleasure, they a tolerance develops. This prompts them to ingest larger quantities to just to stave off withdrawal.
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms include fatigue, sleep disturbances, and depression. These physical and psychological factors make quitting the drug particularly challenging, increasing the risk of overdose and associated health complications. This is why professional cocaine detox is often necessary for people to truly quit.
What Is Cocaine Detox Like?
A cocaine detox is the process of allowing the body to remove the drug while managing the symptoms of withdrawal. Detox can vary depending on the person’s usage pattern, length of addiction, overall health, and other factors.
The process goes something like this:
- Initial Assessment: Before cocaine detox begins, healthcare professionals typically assess the patient to determine the level of dependence and any potential medical issues.
- Stabilization: This is the process of getting the person through acute intoxication and withdrawal. The individual will be monitored and supported by medical staff. Medications may be given to treat specific symptoms.
- Fostering Patient Entry into Drug Treatment: The ultimate goal of cocaine detox is to help the individual attain a drug-free state. Once detox is complete, the person is often encouraged to enter a drug treatment or rehabilitation program to address the underlying issues of addiction.
Get confidential help from our addiction treatment specialists in Orange County. Call to join our rehab program today!
Call 866-881-1184What to Look for in a Cocaine Detox Center
While not always life-threatening, a cocaine detox can come with a variety of physical and psychological symptoms, so it’s important to get the proper help. Choosing a quality cocaine detox center can help ensure safety, comfort, and an increased chance of long-term recovery.
If you or someone you know is seeking help for cocaine addiction, here are some things to look for:
- Accreditation and Licensing: The facility should be accredited by a recognized health or addiction association. In the U.S., look for accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) or the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).
- Qualified Staff: Ensure that the center has licensed and credentialed medical and mental health professionals on staff. This includes physicians, nurses, counselors, and therapists.
- Medical Monitoring: While cocaine withdrawal isn’t typically life-threatening, it can come with uncomfortable symptoms.
- Dual Diagnosis Capability: Many individuals with addiction issues also have co-occurring mental health disorders.
- Aftercare Planning: The best detox centers recognize that detoxification is just the first step in the recovery journey. Look for centers that offer or coordinate with aftercare services, such as outpatient counseling, sober living arrangements, and support groups.
- Environment: A comfortable, clean, and safe environment can make the detoxification process less daunting.
- Patient Reviews: Look for reviews or testimonials from former patients. While no facility will have a 100% satisfaction rate, consistent negative reviews or complaints can be a red flag.
- Cost and Insurance: You’ll first want to verify insurance options. Ensure that you understand the costs associated with treatment. Some facilities accept insurance, while others might operate on a sliding fee scale based on income.
- Location: While the quality of care is the top priority, the location can also be a factor. Some people benefit from being away from their regular environment, while others prefer to stay close to home.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment at South Coast Behavioral Health
For those struggling with cocaine addiction, South Coast Behavioral Health is here to help.
The first step before treatment can begin is going through a medical detox for cocaine. 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 that is 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 going through the cocaine detox, proper treatment can begin.
Treatment for substance abuse takes place along an entire spectrum of care. Along that entire spectrum are various behavioral therapies, life skills training, support groups, and the use of medically-assisted treatment (MAT).
These levels of treatment are, in order, as follows:
Residential Treatment in California
After successfully completing medical detox, you’ll move to 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 our treatment 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 a number of hours each day, returning back to their sober living 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, skills 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
You can detox from cocaine. Addiction treatment involving behavioral therapy can help. If you or a loved one are struggling with cocaine addiction but wonder how long addiction counseling takes or have other questions, call us at 866-881-1184. Our highly qualified staff will be happy to help give you an idea on what to expect from your addiction recovery timeline, help verify your insurance, and assist with any other questions you may have. Don’t wait for cocaine addiction treatment. Call us today.
- Cocaine DrugFacts | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov)
- How is cocaine addiction treated? | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov)
- Withdrawal Management – Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings – NCBI Bookshelf (nih.gov)
