DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHAB GUIDES

The Truth About Cocaine Withdrawal

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There’s an ongoing debate about cocaine withdrawal symptoms – do they or do they not exist? Some people say that cocaine is not addictive like heroin or prescription narcotics, that stopping use of the drug won’t result in the same level of withdrawal symptoms. Others say that cocaine withdrawal symptoms can be devastating and are often an obstacle to long-term abstinence. Which group is right?

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

According to Medline Plus, not only do cocaine withdrawal symptoms exist when a patient stops chronic abuse of the drug, but these symptoms are both physiological and psychological in nature – the dictionary definition of addiction. These symptoms include:

  • Cravings for more cocaine
  • A “crash” or cessation of the high associated with cocaine abuse
  • Overwhelming fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety and paranoia
  • Few happy emotions

Though these symptoms don’t look as dramatic as those experienced by recovering heroin addicts or alcoholics, they are real and they can be difficult for patients to go through on their own without risk of relapse. For this reason, it is recommended that cocaine addicts undergo medically supervised detox and treatment just like patients dependent on any other drug.

Risks of Avoiding Cocaine Detox

For some, cocaine withdrawal symptoms can mean thoughts of suicide. The depression can be steep and long lasting and, without medical assistance, it can end tragically for those who attempt to stop taking cocaine without assistance when they have been abusing the drug chronically for years.

For others, the issues of fatigue and paranoia, the inability to feel happiness, and the increased anxiety and irritability can push patients to relapse despite their best intentions to walk away from addiction forever. The risk, in these cases, is an inadvertent overdose when the patient uses too much cocaine or goes overboard and mixes cocaine with other drugs, including alcohol. In fact, relapse after an unsupervised detox is one of the most common times for overdose to occur.

Treating Cocaine Addiction

Detox is the first step in a comprehensive cocaine addiction treatment program. In order to avoid relapse for the long term, those addicted to cocaine are encouraged to enroll in a program that offers a number of different therapeutic options including 12-step meetings, personal therapy, holistic treatments, aftercare services and more.

If you or someone you care about is ready to take on cocaine detox and addiction treatment, contact us today to locate a rehab that can provide you with the help you need.