Cocaine
A Complete Guide to Cocaine Detox in New York
Over 1.4 million Americans had cocaine use disorder in 2021, according to NSDUH annual report.
Every year, thousands try to get rid of their addiction to this drug. If you or your loved one is one of those, read this post carefully.
Like all drugs, breaking free from cocaine can be highly challenging. Even worse, quitting this drug without medical help can lead to severe health problems in many cases.
To avoid these issues, there’s some crucial information you need to be aware of if you or your loved one plans to undergo a cocaine detox.
This includes understanding the withdrawal symptoms, the detox time frame, and what medical help you might need.
In this post, we’ll guide you on how to detox from cocaine addiction. We’ll also provide you with insights into how Every1 Center can help you at each step of the process.
After reading this post, you’ll have a clear idea of how to achieve long-term recovery from cocaine.
How Does Cocaine Addiction Develop?
When you go through a pleasurable experience, for example, having a tasty meal, your brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine in your nervous system.
This dopamine floats around in your nervous system for some time, causing you to feel pleasure before your brain absorbs it again.
Once the brain reabsorbs it, you return to your neutral satisfaction level. In ordinary pleasurable situations, like the tasty meal example, the amount of released dopamine is relatively small.
Conversely, when using cocaine, your brain’s reward system will start to function in a totally different way.
Using cocaine gives an immediate, profound sense of euphoria, a pleasure that is impossible to experience under any normal condition.
You reach this euphoric state because cocaine drives your brain to release a tremendous amount of dopamine.
Cocaine also partially restricts the brain’s ability to absorb the released dopamine for a while.
With the continuous use of cocaine, you get used to its euphoric effect. Meanwhile, your brain will start to dramatically reduce the dopamine release to regain its natural balance.
So, you begin to increase the doses over time to get more pleasure. It’s only a short time, and you’ll become cocaine dependent.
In this case, the absence of cocaine will lead to many unpleasant and even dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
As a result, you enter a never-ending loop of cocaine consumption that can lead to many life-threatening health problems.
For this reason, it’s crucial to consider starting your cocaine addiction treatment as early as possible.
What Are the Withdrawal Symptoms of Cocaine?
The withdrawal symptoms you’ll experience as you detox from cocaine depend on the duration you’ve been addicted to it.
It’s also highly dependent on the usual doses you use and the quality of the drug. Here’s an overview of the common withdrawal symptoms:
Mild Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms
You’ll likely experience mild symptoms if you’ve been using cocaine infrequently or for only a short period.
These mild symptoms include the following:
- Headaches
- Hunger and increased appetite
- Slowness in motor skills
- Chronic fatigue
- Irritation
- Sleep nightmares
- Low sex drive
- Drug cravings
- Continuous lack of joy
Moderate to Severe Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms
If you’ve been using cocaine for an extended period or in high frequency, you’ll likely experience moderate or severe withdrawal symptoms during detox.
This is also the case if you suffer from any mental health disorder.
Here are the moderate and severe symptoms:
- Suicidal thoughts
- Paranoia
- Extreme agitation and suspicion
- Deep dysphoric mood
- Depression
- Anxiety
How Long Does It Take to Detox from Cocaine?
The detoxification process has three main phases: the crash, the withdrawal, and the extinction. Each of which has an expected duration.
Let’s take a look at them:
1. The Crash Phase
The crash phase usually starts anytime in the first six hours from the last time you’ve used the drug. It can last up to 50 hours.
In this phase, you experience different withdrawal symptoms as well as acute stress and insomnia. You’ll also experience intense cravings during this time.
The intensity of the crash phase depends on the quality and quantity of the cocaine you use.
2. The Withdrawal Phase
The duration of the withdrawal phase usually ranges between 1–4 weeks. However, the exact time it takes depends mainly on how long you’ve used the drug.
The longer you’ve used it, the longer the withdrawal time will be. In addition, withdrawal will likely be prolonged if you suffer from an underlying mental health disorder.
3. The Extinction Phase
You’ll enter an extinction period once you’ve passed the withdrawal phase.
During this phase, you’ll continue to experience withdrawal symptoms but with significantly less intensity.
Nonetheless, the challenging part of this phase is its long duration. It can last for several months.
So, you need to be careful and stay away from any social cues or emotional triggers that may intensify your cravings during this phase.
You should avoid these triggers at all costs to protect yourself from any potential relapse.
Can You Detox from Cocaine at Home?
Some people may be tempted to detox from cocaine at home and prefer not to resort to a medical facility. Nonetheless, there are a couple of reasons why this isn’t a good idea:
There’s a High Chance of Relapse
You’ll feel intense anxiety and hopelessness, along with various withdrawal symptoms, throughout the detoxification process.
When these psychological symptoms are combined with strong cravings for cocaine in this phase, there’s a high probability of relapse.
Even worse, in the case of relapse, you become highly tempted to consume an overdose to experience a huge dopamine rush. Needless to say, this can severely risk your life.
To avoid these scenarios, you’ll need extensive medical monitoring and care to prevent relapse using the most effective, safe methods.
You definitely won’t be able to get the necessary medical care at home.
You’ll Experience Intolerable Withdrawal Symptoms
Some of the severe withdrawal symptoms are highly dangerous. A lot of people won’t be able to handle the suicidal or paranoid thoughts that will arise at that time.
Unfortunately, failing to address these symptoms will risk your life and that of your close people.
So, it’s recommended to embark on the cocaine detoxification journey under the supervision of medical professionals.
This is to avoid the hazards mentioned above and any other unexpected occurrences.
What Are Medications for Managing Cocaine Detox?
There are no current medications approved by the FDA for treating cocaine addiction. Researchers are still working on this complicated goal.
What makes finding a treatment for treating cocaine a complex process is that the drug’s impact isn’t only limited to dopamine.
Cocaine also affects multiple other brain neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine, GABA, glutamate, and serotonin.
That said, physicians may use some medications to alleviate the intensity of certain detox withdrawal symptoms.
Nonetheless, you shouldn’t take any of these medications without a medical prescription or under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
What Are the Behavioral Treatments for Cocaine?
Behavioral treatments have proven their effectiveness in helping patients recover from cocaine addiction over the years.
That’s why addiction specialists at Every1 Center use a bunch of behavioral treatments during and after the detox process.
Here are the two most common types we use:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an effective technique to prevent relapse. This approach works on equipping the patients with critical skills to support their long-term abstinence.
These skills include identifying the situations in which they crave cocaine and how to avoid them.
They also include different techniques to handle a wide variety of issues associated with drug use.
Therapeutic Communities (TCs)
The therapeutic community is a group-based addiction treatment approach used for decades.
This technique involves gathering patients in groups to help and support each other in recovering from cocaine dependence.
They do so by discussing common issues and trying to find solutions to them. The interaction between the patients also represents a form of social support.
These groups of patients are supervised and led by addiction specialists. A patient may continue to engage in such a community for up to 12 months.
In addition to these types of behavioral therapy, each Every1 Center resident receives a personalized treatment plan that addresses their unique life problems.
For example, patients with marital issues might require marriage counseling sessions to support their long-term recovery.
Likewise, a patient with an unemployment issue will be directed to a career counselor to help them overcome this obstacle.
How Every1 Center Will Help You Safely Detox from Cocaine?
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms are less severe than those of other substances, such as alcohol. Still, it can be highly challenging to overcome safely.
In some cases, it can develop into mental health complications like depression or withdrawal dysphoria. Medical professionals at Every1 Center will help you control and manage all problems arising during and after detoxification.
Physicians will monitor the progress of your recovery and your overall health state. This is to take any required medical measures to keep you safe if any severe or unexpected health issues emerge.
Doctors may also prescribe medications to help you overcome specific withdrawal symptoms like insomnia. Similarly, if the person experiences severe depression during the withdrawal period, doctors may prescribe specific antidepressant treatments.
In addition, psychiatrists monitor the addict’s psychological condition if they suffer from any mental illness. That said, the typical routine during the detoxification process consists mainly of rest, a healthy diet, and regular exercise.
Because drug cravings will be intense during this period, the therapists will train the patient to use techniques to overcome this desire. Therapists will do this using the behavioral therapy techniques we’ve mentioned above.
After detoxification, the patient needs to undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation program to prevent any future relapse.
In this program, the patients address the psychological, behavioral, and social issues that led them to drug abuse in the first place.
How Professionals Manage Cocaine Detox at Every 1 Center?
Medical professionals at Every1 Center monitor and manage the symptoms of cocaine detox through a three-stage process.
The ultimate goal of these stages is to address any relapse immediately and keep the patient on the right track toward recovery.
Here are these stages:
1. Evaluation
Medical professionals perform ongoing assessments of the patient’s physical and mental health throughout detoxification.
This is to ensure the patient’s health condition isn’t severely impacted or their life isn’t threatened at any point during the process.
They also evaluate their social support system and how to train them to help the patient.
In addition, these assessments help the healthcare provider to identify the recommended course of action for the patient after detox. This is to ensure long-term recovery.
2. Stabilization
Medical professionals and addiction specialists help the patient achieve medical stability and reach the state of abstinence during the detox period.
They also motivate the patient to keep going through the recovery process.
3. Preparation for Post-Detox
Post-detox treatment is as crucial as the detox process itself. It helps patients address the underlying psychological, social, behavioral, and physical problems that can lead to future relapse.
That’s why medical professionals prepare patients to continue their treatment journey post-detox.
Ready to Start Your Cocaine Detox Journey?
When you or your loved one is ready to take the first step toward detoxing from cocaine, Every1 Center’ experts are here to help.
We’ll provide all the medical support to ensure you effectively and safely achieve abstinence.
Regardless of the severity of your addiction condition, our specialists will equip you with the proper techniques to reach a complete recovery.
You’ll receive a personalized detox and recovery plan based on your unique condition.
In addition, we’ll continuously monitor your progress during the detox process to provide the needed help or medical intervention when necessary.
Treatment here in Every1 Center isn’t only limited to cocaine detox. We’ll also recommend the best post-detox programs to help you achieve long-term drug recovery.
Ready to regain your freedom? Feel free to reach out to our specialist via phone, message, or live chat now and start your recovery journey!
Drug & alcohol detox programs are not directly offered by Every1 Center. However, we do recognize that this type of addiction treatment is often necessary and vital to one’s long-term recovery from substance abuse. If you or a loved one require any services that we do not offer we would be glad to refer you to one of our trusted affiliate providers.
