Estimations show that over 1.5 million people in the United States abuse cocaine alone, indicating this is one of the most abused substances in the U.S. When used, the effects are intense and extremely energizing. Cocaine also has a very short half-life and its effectiveness wears off in as little as 15 minutes, leading to incredibly powerful addiction to keep the high going.
Cocaine in powdered form is be insufflated, eaten, rubbed into gums, smoked, or even injected intravenously. Crack cocaine is a crystal rock form of cocaine that is often combined with baking soda and is overall a lower purity form of the substance. Both of these forms of the substance carry extreme risks. In fact, cocaine has contributed to nearly 14,000 overdose deaths in 2017 alone. For those who use cocaine on a regular basis, detox will be vital to one’s recovery.
Signs of Cocaine Addiction
Due to it’s short-lived high, cocaine in copious quantities is often needed to sustain one’s habit. Once taken into the body, there is an initial high that is euphoric and sparks an intense bout of energy. Someone who is relying heavily on cocaine for their energy might take frequent trips to the bathroom, they may experience mood swings, and they may have a lack of interest in eating or sleeping, among other formerly enjoyed activities. The person’s actions and words will often hasten and seem frantic to an onlooker. The individual’s temperature will rise and they will often seem sweaty, anxious, and possibly non-sensible to others. These effects may only last for about 15 minutes to an hour. The short length, but great euphoria of the high is often why habitual use develops. As the effects start to wear off, they take another quantity of this substance with endless repetition.
Common Signs of Cocaine Addiction
- Weight loss
- Mood swings
- Increased heart rate
- Enlarged pupils
- Nosebleeds, inflamed nostrils, nasal congestion, deviated septum
- Nervousness, restlessness, and inability to concentrate; paranoia
- Increased susceptibility to viruses and bacteria due to a reduced immune response
- Delusions and hallucinations
What is Crack Cocaine?
Crack Cocaine, or ‘Crack’, is a less carefully processed and less pure form of cocaine, yet just as or possibly even more addicting. The appearance of ‘crack rocks’ is that of a dull off-white crystal. Most commonly, this form of the drug is smoked and inhaled, causing a much faster and shorter-acting high. Typically the effects of smoking crack cocaine only last on the shorter end, about 5-15 minutes. The short life of the high also brings more intense cravings. Additionally, because crack is often cut with filler like baking soda or ammonia, there are also often unintended side effects. Drug dealers may add these fillers to fool the buyer into believing the product is more abundant, but this is merely a ploy.
The Cocaine Withdrawal Process
Due to dependency and cravings, detox is vital. Depending on the length of time using and the amount used, cocaine detox may bring on an array of physical and physiological withdrawal symptoms. The cocaine detox process can take anywhere from 12 hours to 4 or more days. Most users will experience a level of decreased energy as dopamine levels drop, as well as increased anxiety and irritability.
More common cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Lack of pleasure
- Irritability and anxiety
- Suspicion or paranoia
- Agitation
- Trouble eating or sleeping
The Importance of Drug Detox for Cocaine Addiction
According to data collected by the CDC, the number of cocaine overdose-related deaths rose between 2015 and 2018 from 12,676 to 14,666 deaths across the country. Additionally, co-current cocaine and opioid drug use are becoming an increasing concern. A staggering rise has been seen in the past 5 years among drug overdose deaths involving cocaine and opioids or other synthetic narcotics. In 1999, the overall number of overdoses involving cocaine was 3,822 and in 2018 this number hit 14,666. The majority of this rise was seen only recently in the past few years.
Addiction to cocaine is extremely life-altering; this includes job loss, relationship turmoil, poverty, health problems, and mental instability. Increased health problems include stroke, seizure, heart disease, cardiovascular and respiratory complications. Cocaine use has also been linked to cognitive disorders such as memory loss and decreased attention span. Users who share instruments are at an astronomically high risk for contracting viral infections.
We work to maximize comfort, offering over-the-counter and prescription medications as needed, psychological care, and personal support to encourage abstinence from cocaine and other drugs, both today and for years to come.
Detox promotes healing in a safe, comfortable environment and provides resources for withdrawal that minimize negative symptoms. With a staff of trained practitioners and caretakers, Level Up Treatment Center provides the ability detox under the watchful and careful eye of professionals.
Cocaine Addiction Treatment
The level of care that your addiction treatment team recommends to you will be determined based on a number of factors that include but are not limited to your current progress with recovery, your history with addiction and recovery, your motivation, and your home environment.
Upon completion of a cocaine detox program, there are a number of different treatment options to help individuals who have been struggling with addiction. Care can be provided on an inpatient or outpatient basis, and at various levels of care. The levels of care for cocaine addiction treatment include:
- Residential Cocaine Addiction Rehab
- Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for Cocaine Addiction
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for Cocaine Addiction
- Outpatient Treatment & Aftercare for Cocaine Addiction
Think you might be addicted? Help is here. Contact Level Up Treatment Centers in West Palm Beach to overcome your addiction to cocaine with our detox & addiction treatment program.
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