Beach House Center for Recovery provides a stable, beautiful, and safe setting for addressing serious, life-threatening addictions. Our advanced treatment modalities identify the core contributors to cocaine addiction, and our compassionate, highly experienced team of therapists and medical professionals help patients work toward a happy, healthy, and sober future.
What is Cocaine Addiction?
Cocaine is an illicit stimulant sold in powder form, but it is also found as a less expensive but highly toxic subtype, commonly known as crack cocaine. While powder cocaine is typically snorted through the nose or injected with a syringe when dissolved in water, crack cocaine is generally smoked. Smoking or injecting cocaine enhances its effect, making it more addictive and dangerous.
Smoking crack cocaine is sometimes known as “freebasing.” However, cocaine in freebase form is insoluble and pure, whereas crack cocaine contains additives like baking soda and other potentially illicit compounds. Because both forms of cocaine are smoked, their effects are experienced immediately.
The severity of cocaine addiction depends upon numerous variables, including a person’s physiology, natural inclination towards addiction behaviors, and the delivery method (whether the drug is smoked, snorted, or injected). In general, smoking or injecting cocaine delivers an almost instantaneous and intense feeling of euphoria. The effects of snorting tend to be less potent (slightly reducing the likelihood of addiction after initial use).
However, cocaine consumption – regardless of the medium by which it is taken – can lead to severe health consequences even if addiction doesn’t occur. Using any illegal drug can expose you to extremely hazardous additives that might result in overdose, hospitalization, or death. Moreover, anyone with an underlying or undiagnosed heart condition could be especially vulnerable to life-threatening medical complications after initial cocaine use.
Signs and Symptoms of Cocaine Addiction
While there are numerous signs of cocaine addiction, it can be challenging to recognize the disorder in its early stages. Unfortunately, if the disorder has progressed for months or years, the signs can become difficult to ignore.
The repeated use of cocaine can lead to drug tolerance, requiring higher and higher doses to achieve the desired euphoric result. When a person develops such a tolerance, they might become increasingly preoccupied with acquiring the drug, leading to financial struggles, anxiety, legal issues, withdrawal from family and friends, and neglect of personal and professional obligations.
If you suspect a loved one could be struggling with a cocaine addiction, here are a few signs of a potentially serious disorder:
- Sudden bursts of energy
- Uncharacteristically secretive behavior
- Social withdrawal
- Persistent sniffing or runny nose
- Dramatic mood swings
- High-risk behaviors
- Poor impulse control
- Arrests or other legal issues
- Financial problems
- Poor personal hygiene
Although cocaine might not cause the type of physical withdrawal symptoms typically seen with alcohol or opioid withdrawal, there are a few common symptoms, including the following:
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
- Intense depression
- Suicidal ideations
- Paranoia
- Lack of focus or inability to concentrate
- Disturbed sleep patterns
The severity and length of withdrawal symptoms can vary between individuals, but people who have used the drug for years might experience more prolonged symptoms. People who combine cocaine with other prescription or illicit drugs are at an increased risk of experiencing serious health issues.
Beach House Center for Recovery: Our Cocaine Rehab Approach
Effective recovery requires a comprehensive, systematic treatment approach. Because extended cocaine use can have serious medical consequences – long-term cocaine abuse can cause a high risk of heart attack and stroke – it is important to be monitored by an experienced team of addiction medical professionals.
At Beach House, we proudly offer a safe haven for cocaine rehab. With a lower ratio of patients to counselors than most addiction treatment facilities, we offer personalized and highly effective support throughout the recovery journey.
To learn more about our treatment methodology, please contact our compassionate and helpful admissions counselors today.