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Bright Future Recovery - Northern California Drug and Alcohol Rehab Treatment

Cocaine Detox

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Cocaine Detox Programs

The first step of detoxification from drugs and alcohol, known as detox, begins with clients completing both physical and psychological assessments from healthcare professionals. These assessments help medical staff within the detoxification program come up with the best course of action when it comes to treatment. Patients should receive a personalized treatment plan, as no two cases of substance abuse recovery are the same.

The detoxification process should take place in a setting that is medically supervised, as many symptoms of withdrawal can present both physical and mental dangers to clients going through detox. It is important that symptoms of withdrawal are kept track of by medical professionals who are able to step in and provide assistance to clients if and when it is necessary, as well as to ensure client comfort throughout the detox process. Health care professionals are able to appropriately provide support to patients in a safe and non-judgmental setting while in detox.

Cocaine Abuse and Detox

 

Cocaine is a drug that has a high likelihood of becoming both mentally and physically addictive to those who try it. If an individual becomes addicted to the substance and then stops consuming it abruptly, their body may no longer be able to function properly, leading to symptoms of withdrawal. Once cocaine is no longer present in the body, the brain begins to go into overdrive, after which withdrawal symptoms begin.

How Cocaine Abuse Affects the Body

 

Severe paranoia and paranoia-related psychosis are one of the many risks associated with addiction to cocaine. Those who are addicted to cocaine may experience auditory hallucinations as they lose their grip on reality during their paranoid state. This can result in anger and violence, which endangers both the user and those around them.

Cocaine also affects the pleasure center of the brain almost immediately. This causes users to feel an intense high. In comparison to other substances, the high from cocaine use is short-lived. This often results in users consuming the drug repeatedly in a short time span, also known as binging. Binge use of cocaine increases the likelihood of overdose among users.

Those who ingest cocaine are at risk for both heart attacks and strokes, regardless of their method of consumption or frequency of consumption. Deaths that occur as a result of cocaine use typically take place when a user experiences a heart attack or seizure, which is then followed by respiratory arrest.

Symptoms of Cocaine Detox

 

Detoxification from cocaine is unlike detoxing from other substances. Cocaine, as a water-soluble substance, both enters and leaves the body more quickly than other drugs. Similar to the high experienced by cocaine users, the presence of cocaine in the body is typically over quickly. When it comes to cocaine detoxification, there are three stages to keep an eye out for, commonly known as crash, acute withdrawal, and extinction.

Crash

Cocaine is a drug that possesses a short half-life. This means the drug both enters and leaves the body rather quickly. Individuals who use cocaine typically feel euphoric after consumption. Their energy levels may increase, and agitation can potentially occur. These symptoms are all a result of the drug increasing the blood pressure and heart rate of the user. However, this energetic, euphoric feeling never lasts long, which can result in binging behavior in order to maintain those desired feelings. When an individual who is addicted to cocaine ceases use suddenly, a rebound from those effects occurs. This rebound is known as a crash. The crash phase of detoxification typically lasts about a week, during which the risk of relapse is high. During the crash phase, symptoms experienced by users may include initial cravings, depression, anxiety, dysphoria, increased appetite, irritability, excessive sleeping (also known as hypersomnia), exhaustion, and restlessness.

Acute Withdrawal

Acute withdrawal is the phase that takes place after the crash phase. This stage of cocaine detoxification can last a few weeks. During the acute withdrawal stage, the physical symptoms of withdrawal may persist or lessen. The psychological symptoms of withdrawal will increase during the acute withdrawal stage. Those who are experiencing acute withdrawal typically report symptoms such as anxiety, aggression, irritability, fatigue, dysphoria, and intense cravings.

Extinction

Extinction is the last phase of withdrawal from cocaine. During extinction, physical withdrawal symptoms have typically dissipated completely. Psychological symptoms, on the other hand, have the potential to last for months. A high risk of relapse occurs at this stage when symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideations can occur.

How Long Does it Take to Detox from Cocaine?

 

Cocaine provides users with a short-lived high as it enters and leaves the bloodstream quickly. This often results in binging behavior among cocaine users. Because of the shorter presence of cocaine in the body, the detoxification process, which rids the body of the presence of the drug, may not take as long as it does for other types of drugs. While detox may take place over a number of hours or days, the psychological effects of cocaine withdrawal can last for a significantly longer time.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to the length and severity of cocaine withdrawal, including:

  • The amount of cocaine used
  • The method of consumption (cocaine can be ingested orally, through the nose, or by being smoked or injected into the body.
  • The length of time spent using cocaine
  • The client’s mental and physical health
  • The client’s genetic composition

How to Recognize if You Need Cocaine Detox

 

Getting help for cocaine addiction is vital to the success of an individual’s sobriety. You may need to attend a detoxification program for cocaine consumption if:

  • You find yourself thinking about cocaine on a daily basis
  • You constantly think about how to cease cocaine consumption
  • You use more cocaine than you first intended
  • Other attempts to cease the use of cocaine have been unsuccessful
  • You spend copious amounts of time and money finding and using cocaine
  • You neglect responsibilities such as work, school, or family in order to use cocaine
  • You need larger amounts of cocaine to experience the same high
  • You use cocaine regardless of the negative consequences
  • You experience symptoms of withdrawal when you try to stop using cocaine.

The Different Types of Detox

 

There are many different types of detoxification available at substance abuse treatment centers. Recovery center staff are trained specifically on how to keep track of clients’ physical and mental states throughout the detoxification process, helping to ensure patient safety during treatments and providing medical assistance when necessary.

Detox programs are available for a multitude of substance abuse types, including:

  • Cocaine
  • Alcohol
  • Barbiturates
  • Morphine
  • Fentanyl
  • Heroin
  • Crystal Meth
  • Tramadol
  • Vicodin
  • Oxycodone
  • Percocet
  • Norco
  • Lortab
  • Hydromorphone

Cocaine Detox and Getting Help

 

Luckily there is treatment available for those who find themselves addicted to cocaine. Beginning treatment as soon as possible helps prevent severe cases of long-term side effects among those who use cocaine. Detoxification is the first step of drug addiction treatment. After the detox process is complete, psychological treatment can help clients learn how to prevent instances of relapse through the proper use of coping mechanisms, as well as addressing underlying mental health issues that may contribute to the use of substances such as cocaine. Both individual and group therapies are available to clients who attend treatment programs for addiction. While withdrawal from cocaine may not be as serious as other drugs, attending a California drug rehabilitation program for assistance will help to ensure long-term recovery.

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