Once an expensive party drug for the elite, cocaine use is now more common with a wide spectrum of cocaine users across society – due to the drug being cheaper and purer than ever.

Casual use can quickly turn into a full cocaine addiction with both women and men being affected. The rate of cocaine-related deaths among women has increased by more than 800% in the last 10 years, from 16 deaths in 2010 to 158 deaths in 2020.

Increased cocaine and alcohol abuse is also being partly blamed as the reasons for a rise in violence and crowd disorder at events such as football. Because of the increased use, more people are seeking treatment for cocaine addiction and in a report covering 2020 to 2021 of the people starting treatment, “20% said they had a problem with crack cocaine” and “15% said they had a problem with cocaine”.

Understanding your addiction more and knowing that help is out there is the first step to turning away from cocaine and living a more fulfilling life, free of drug addiction.

 

Preparing to Quit Cocaine

Taking the step to quit cocaine is a big one, so being prepared and having a plan beforehand gives you a better chance at succeeding in achieving long-term recovery. There are some things you can bear in mind when preparing to quit cocaine.

 

Get in the right mindset

You must go into the process with a positive attitude. Allowing yourself hope and accepting that there is hard work ahead will stand you in great stead down the road. Recovery comes with many valleys as well as peaks and being too easily disheartened may stop you in your tracks. Taking care of your mental health alongside your addiction will help you in the long run.

 

Seeking out drug services

Even if you don’t feel ready to enter rehab, or are not sure you need to, start researching now. Having a plan and finding a place right for you will help put your mind at ease about the process. Uncertainty and fear of the unknown stops many cocaine addicts from getting the help they need – so finding out what treatment options are available to you and how to access services should give you a boost.

 

Voice your desire to quit

Telling family and friends that you are ready to quit with hopefully be a positive step. If done sober and they see you are serious then you will quickly be surrounded by a support network that is willing to do a lot to make sure you succeed in your recovery.

 

How to Start to Reduce or Quit Cocaine

Once you’ve prepared to stop you can put it into action. There are many things you can do to start withdrawing from cocaine.

 

Change your habits

Cocaine habits are often linked to certain activities and environments. Many people combine drinking alcohol and cocaine on a night out, using the effects of cocaine to counteract drunkenness. Quitting drinking alongside cocaine will help your brain stop making the connection between the two activities – increasing your chances of getting sober.

 

Find new ways to spend your time

Distracting your mind and finding ways to fill your time will hopefully stop you from thinking about cocaine. Exercising, reading, taking up a new hobby – anything other than taking cocaine is a better way to fill your time.

 

Gradually cut down

Many people attempt to quit cold turkey – and that could bring on nasty symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. If you can manage it then cutting down gradually will help you eventually become sober as smaller steps always feel less intimidating than a big leap.

 

Social Support for Quitting Cocaine

Having a support system around you is a key part of getting sober and staying that way. During this difficult period, you should have people to lean on who can help you in the dark moments. Addicts who talk to others about their issues and desire for treatment are more likely to get help and stick to a treatment plan.

Cocaine addiction affects not only the person taking the drug but all the people around them We at Ocean Recovery understand this and provide support for family and friends. In some cases, an intervention may be needed – something that Ocean Recovery can help with. Ensuring this is done responsibly and planned is more likely to lead to a positive outcome.

Being open with each other and free of judgement will take away the shame of the addiction and help the person addicted understand that they are not alone.

 

Professional Help for Quitting Cocaine

If the addiction is serious enough then professional treatment may be the only thing that can help. Treatment for cocaine addiction at a facility such as Ocean Recovery comes in two major stages.

 

Cocaine Detox

Detox is when you abstain from an addictive substance to remove its harmful toxins from your body. It is an important step as it will clear your mind and body so you can begin the next stage of treatment.

The withdrawal that comes with cocaine detox is not as dangerous as heroin or alcohol but it still isn’t without issues. Within the first 24 hours, you’ll most likely crash – experiencing side effects such as fatigue, depression, suicidal thoughts, and mood swings. After this stage, more withdrawal symptoms may arise such as intense cravings, insomnia, and anger.

Medications will be offered to ease symptoms and you’ll be well-fed to keep your strength up.

 

Cocaine Rehab

Through a regimented therapy programme, you will begin to explore the reasons behind your addiction and work on ways to beat it. Through a combination of evidence-based therapies such as CBT, well-being therapies and social activities you will learn to cope with addiction triggers and better understand the thought processes that lead you to take cocaine.

Mental healthcare is at the forefront of our approach to addiction treatment. Utilising group therapy, low-level laser therapy, group walks and many other treatment options will help you achieve long-term recovery.

 

Maintaining Sobriety After Quitting Cocaine

The side effects of stopping cocaine may linger for many months after being clean. Symptoms such as continued anxiety, poor sleep, cravings for cocaine and having a low mood are reasons that many relapses occur in the first months after finishing treatment.

Ocean Recovery provides a free 12-month aftercare package to help our clients avoid relapse. An aftercare plan provides structure and ongoing management of your recovery after completing treatment. The plan is tailored to you – considering your history, the environment you are returning to and your addiction history.

The aftercare plan is there to complement the therapy you received during treatment, helping you deal with triggers that you will face in the outside world.

Weekly group sessions are an essential part of aftercare. Attending support groups such as cocaine anonymous gives you the chance to meet and talk with other cocaine addicts to work through issues. Building a support network beyond your family and friends that may be better equipped to help you is a good thing for everyone – easing the pressure on load on those closest.

Engaging with aftercare is a great tool of relapse prevention – helping you live a life free of cocaine.

 

Get Help Today

If you are ready to stop using cocaine and turn your life around then Ocean Recovery can help. We are an industry-leading drug rehab with a raft of treatment options to help you become sober – whether it be from cocaine, alcohol or any other addiction. Call our team today at 0800 880 7596 to take your first steps towards recovery.

 

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/aug/03/drug-poisoning-deaths-in-england-and-wales-reach-record-high

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-adults-statistics-2020-to-2021/adult-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2020-to-2021-report

John Gillen - Director at Ocean Recovery

John Gillen - Author - Last updated: April 1, 2022

John is one UK’s leading professionals in the addiction recovery industry. Pioneering new treatment techniques such as NAD+ and ongoing research into new therapy techniques such as systematic laser therapy, John is committed to providing the very best treatment for people throughout the UK and Europe. During his extremely busy schedule, John likes to regularly update our blog section with the latest news and trends in the industry to keep visitors to our site as well informed as possible on everything related to addiction treatment.