Tarzana Treatment Centers offers specialized treatment programs to address the various aspects of cocaine addiction and recovery. If you already know that you or a loved one needs drug treatment, please call us at 888-777-8565 or contact us by email here. If you need more information, read below.

Cocaine Addiction

While the withdrawal symptoms are nowhere near those of opiates, cocaine addiction onset can be just as rapid as heroin and the effects on the addict’s life are as devastating.

Cocaine can be snorted, smoked (as “crack”) or injected. The first use experience is an almost immediate sense of euphoria and pleasant numbing in the facial area. This moment in time can actually be when cocaine addiction begins, depending on the individual. But for most cocaine addicts, there is some time between first use and addiction.

Cocaine’s effects only last a short time with each use, so as long as a person uses the drug he will need more. Use gradually becomes more frequent and with higher quantities of cocaine. The developing addict begins to see cocaine as his friend and uses when he is alone. Soon after, he declines invitations from others and becomes a social recluse with his new friend. As people stop calling delusional feelings take over, leaving the addict to believe cocaine is his only friend. He also rejects comments by family members about his behavior and isolation. These are seen as threats to his new relationship.

Due to the price and addictive qualities of cocaine, financial troubles are inevitable. The addict may switch to smoking crack or injecting the drug to save some money. But tolerance – where the body needs more of a drug to achieve the same effect – only leads him to worse problems. As he sinks further into cocaine addiction, his only priority will be to get more cocaine. As long as he can keep his job, all of his money gets spent on cocaine. When he loses that job, he will resort to either selling drugs or committing other crimes to support his habit. In the 1980’s, it was said that the easiest way to destroy a millionaire was to just add cocaine.

The use of male pronouns in this story is by no means exclusive. In fact, cocaine and crack use is higher with females due to weight loss purposes. The above scenario is just as likely with women, but addiction tends to come much quicker and more often results in a life of crime. More women resort to prostitution to support cocaine addiction than with any other drug. In a lot of these cases, prior to using cocaine, the woman could not imagine ever taking money for sex.

Drug treatment begins with medical detoxification. Although cocaine withdrawal symptoms are not life threatening, it is a good idea to have medical staff present in case of possible adverse affects that could arise. Cocaine cravings are very strong, so Tarzana Treatment Centers staffs addiction counselors on detox units to help cocaine addicts cope with them. After detox, outpatient or residential treatment is recommended to ensure long-term recovery.

Tarzana Treatment Centers offers specialized treatment programs to address the various aspects of cocaine addiction and recovery, including drug detox. Please call us for alcohol or drug treatment at 888-777-8565 or contact us by email here.