Complete Guide to Cocaine Addiction Treatment

People use cocaine in a variety of ways. Used in a powder form, cocaine is inhaled, or snorted, through the nostrils. The powder can also be swallowed or rubbed onto the gums.

It is sometimes dissolved in water, mixed with other ingredients, and then boiled and dried to create a solid form, called crack. Crack cocaine is broken into small pieces, called rocks, that can be smoked. In any of its forms, cocaine use can lead to addiction.

Cocaine is listed as a Schedule II drug by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), meaning that it has a high potential for abuse. It is often consumed as a recreational drug because of its euphoric effects and its ability to increase physical energy and alertness.

People who use cocaine sporadically often assume their use will not lead to addiction. But cocaine is highly addictive. Even sporadic use can lead to physical and mental health issues, as well as problems in personal and work relationships.

Regular use can result in life threatening consequences. Fortunately, with treatment, cocaine addiction can be overcome.

In this article you will learn about the signs of cocaine addiction, cocaine addiction treatment, and how to get help with problematic cocaine use.

What is Cocaine Addiction?

Cocaine addiction, also called cocaine use disorder, happens when you continue to use cocaine despite having negative consequences. Many people with cocaine addiction experience withdrawal symptoms if they attempt to stop using the drug.

Cocaine’s acute effects, withdrawal symptoms, and behavioral patterns include:

• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Anxiety
• Panic
• Aggression
• High risk behavior
• Cravings

Potential adverse effects of long-term cocaine addiction include:

• Impaired impulse control
• Cardiac irregularities
• Stroke
• Seizures
• Hallucinations

Am I Addicted to Cocaine? – Self-Assessment Quiz

Many people start off using cocaine occasionally and recreationally, but how do you know if you’ve developed an addiction? Answer the questions below “yes” or “no” to assess whether you may have a cocaine addiction.

Questions are based on the criteria used by mental health professionals to diagnose cocaine addiction.

In the past 12 months have you:

1. Used more cocaine or used it over a longer period than you intended?
2. Tried but were unsuccessful in cutting back on your use?
3. Experienced cravings when you attempted to cut back or stop using cocaine?
4. Noticed that you must consume larger amounts of cocaine to get the same effect that you used to get with smaller amounts?
5. Experienced problems in your relationships because of your cocaine use?
6. Had problems at work or problems meeting other responsibilities because of your cocaine use?
7. Used cocaine in dangerous ways (such as while driving) or in dangerous situations?
8. Experienced physical discomfort, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, or paranoia when you tried to stop using cocaine?

If you answered “yes” to two of the questions above, your cocaine use is problematic and may indicate a mild cocaine disorder. If you answered “yes” to 3 to 5 of the questions, you likely meet the criteria for a moderate cocaine addiction.

In both these cases, you should seek further evaluation from a professional.

If you answered “yes” to six or more of the questions above, you may meet the criteria for a severe cocaine disorder. You should speak with a physician or mental health professional about your cocaine use. You can explore treatment centers near you in our convenient directory.

Cocaine FAQs

Cocaine Addiction Treatment Options

If you suspect that you might have a cocaine addiction, what’s next? Addiction recovery is different for everyone, but it often begins with detox and continues with either inpatient or outpatient rehab.

The goal is to help you change the thought patterns and behavioral patterns that have fostered your addiction, and to teach you how to identify triggers and prevent relapse.

Cocaine Detox: The First Step to Recovery

Detoxification, or detox, is the process of removing drugs and their unhealthy toxins from your body and allowing your body to adapt to functioning normally without cocaine. This starts the process of healing from addiction and jump-starts improvement in your physical and mental well-being.

It is important to detox safely and to make the process as comfortable as possible. When cocaine detox is performed under medical supervision, trained clinical professionals monitor your treatment and progress, administering prescription medications, if needed, to reduce withdrawal symptoms.

Common cocaine withdrawal symptoms include: 

• Cravings
• Irritability
• Agitation
• Sleep problems
• Depression

In rare cases, cocaine withdrawal can have serious complications. These can include cardiac problems or seizures.

In medical detox, professionals will be able to look for signs of these complications, prevent them whenever possible and treat them safely if they do occur. 

A Timeline of Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

How long does it take to detox from cocaine?

According to the Substance and Mental Health Administration’s Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorder TIP sheet:

• A “crash” with negative withdrawal symptoms begins to occur shortly after the last use of cocaine.
• Withdrawal symptoms may start within a few hours to a few days of last use.
• Symptoms often last 1-2 weeks but may last longer.
• Cravings often wax and wane throughout detoxification.
• Mood disturbances may take several days to a month to stabilize.

Risks of Quitting Cocaine “Cold Turkey”

When you are addicted to cocaine, your brain becomes acclimated to the drug and its effects. Withdrawal symptoms result when the drug is suddenly stopped. If you try to quit “cold turkey,” on your own without treatment or clinical management, you are more susceptible to negative consequences of the cocaine crash.

With no support or medical intervention, symptoms are more severe and strong cravings may lead to extreme agitation as well as suspicion or paranoia.

Benefits of Medical Detox

Having medical supervision during the detox process ensures that you will be supported physically and emotionally and can receive medication if needed to assist you with the discomfort.

Inpatient Cocaine Rehab: Why It’s So Effective

Cocaine rehab is often complicated. Not only is a cocaine addiction difficult to break, it’s also often associated with a secondary drug dependency or a co-occurring disorder.

Alcohol dependence is common in patients with cocaine addiction. Co-occurring mental conditions including anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder may be present.

In cases of multiple addictions or additional psychiatric conditions, a treatment plan must be created to address each condition simultaneously. Inpatient cocaine rehab is the best environment for creating and implementing individualized, personalized treatment plans that can address the multiple conditions often associated with cocaine addiction cases.

Inpatient cocaine rehab provides a safe, structured environment with around the clock medical supervision and support. For patients with severe addictions that cannot easily be addressed in outpatient therapy, residential programs have been shown to have better outcomes.

Life After Rehab: Cocaine Addiction Recovery

The need for cocaine addiction help does not stop after rehab treatment is complete.

Full cocaine addiction recovery requires follow-up and ongoing support. A study in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment looked at factors that led to sustained cocaine abstinence following rehab and found that social support and participation in self-help activities were key determinants of success.

Social support and self-help strategies help you maintain your commitment to abstinence and keep you focused on relapse prevention. There are numerous sources of ongoing support that can help you sustain your recovery.

Rehab Sponsored Aftercare Programs

Many drug rehabs offer aftercare programs. Alumni meetings, special social events, and ongoing peer support meetings are often offered by the rehab facility. Aftercare events are usually available at no cost to prior rehab attendees.

12-Step Peer Support Groups

There are 12-step groups for many different types of addiction, including some that are specific to cocaine and other drugs:

• Cocaine Anonymous (CA) is a fellowship of people who come together to support one another in recovering from cocaine addiction. The only requirement is a desire to stop using cocaine. There are no membership dues or fees. The CA website has a listing of in-person and virtual meeting locations.
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a fellowship of people meeting to support one another and encourage abstinence from narcotic drug use. They advocate abstinence from all drugs. There are no fees or dues, and no religious affiliation. You can find NA meetings near you on the NA website. 
• Dual Recovery Anonymous is a self-help organization of people who have a dual diagnosis with both substance abuse and a mental illness. Their mission is to help people who have a dual diagnosis manage both conditions effectively. They do not provide medical or psychological advice.
• The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) is another source of support for a mental health condition that is associated with a dual diagnosis. NAMI offers free, peer-led meetings open to adults who have experienced a mental health issue, with or without substance abuse. Friends and family may attend meetings as well.

Sober Living Homes

Sober homes or recovery residences accommodate individuals who are seeking temporary housing that also offers support for living a drug-free lifestyle. Residents of sober living homes share communal housing and share household chores.

Residents are often required to undergo random drug testing. The average time spent at a recovery residency home is about a year, but some residents stay several years.

Recovery residences don’t usually provide formal counseling, but they often hold in-house 12-step meetings. There is usually no formal staff at recovery residences, but many have a “house manager” who enforces house rules, oversees all household activities, and administers drug tests.

Residents must pay rent to stay at a sober home but sometimes government grants are available to reduce the cost. Living in a sober home facility can aid in cocaine addiction recovery by providing a drug-free environment, social support, and accountability to fellow sober home residents.

Find Cocaine Treatment Near You

If you have questions about cocaine rehab, or you would like help in finding a cocaine treatment center near you, begin your search by exploring our directory of drug rehabs on Treatment Centers Directory.