How to Stop Taking Cocaine

In this post, we answer the question “how to stop taking cocaine”. Cocaine is also known as benzoylmethylecgonine or ‘coke’. Cocaine, which is classed as a stimulant, is highly addictive. The majority of cocaine addicts snort the drug in its powder form. However, some cocaine addicts will smoke or even inject cocaine in order to ‘get high’ quicker.

Many heavy cocaine users are able to continue their lives without the stigma attached to other addictions such as heroin and alcohol. This is because cocaine users are typically better at ‘holding things together’ when compared to other addictions. This means those close to the addict may not even realise the severity of their addiction.

As we shall out outline below, even short-term cocaine use is highly risky when it comes to your health. When we say ‘health’ we mean your physical and mental wellbeing. Other than your health, cocaine addiction destroys your social, professional and financial well-being. If you’ve taken cocaine for more than three or four months then you will likely feel more depressed, more anxious and more paranoid. In fact, more than 60% of cocaine addicts wish to kick the habit due to the detrimental effect cocaine has on mental health. Other common reasons for wanting to purge cocaine addiction include financial problems, pressure from a spouse or professional problems at work.

If you would like to find out more about cocaine addiction treatment – read more on Cocaine Addiction, Cocaine Rehab and Cocaine Detox.

The Dangers Of Cocaine Abuse

When you consume cocaine you risk a number of immediate health problems. This includes high blood pressure, hyperthermia, heart palpitations, stroke and even sudden cardiac death. Cocaine is particularly dangerous when it is mixed with alcohol. This is because cocaine and alcohol form an even more deadly ‘metabolite’ in the liver known as cocaethylene. Cocaethylene is highly toxic to the liver and may even cause a heart attack.

It is estimated that around 4,300 deaths occur each year as a result of a cocaine overdose.

The Science Of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine is a highly addictive substance due to its action on the reward ‘pathways’ of the brain. This is because cocaine stimulates the release of dopamine. Dopamine is the brain’s ‘feel good’ chemical and a key neurotransmitter. Cocaine also prevents the reuptake of other neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin. A build-up of neurotransmitters results in cocaine’s ‘euphoric’ effect. However, this feeling is short-lived, lasting around fifteen minutes. Cocaine then blocks the re-uptake of dopamine. This means the user must take cocaine in order to experience happiness. Cocaine effectively damages an addict’s ability to experience natural pleasure.

Many long-term cocaine users also feel highly depressed due to their addiction. This depression has led many cocaine addicts to commit suicide.

About Cocaine Treatment

Cocaine dependency is known as a psychological addiction. Cocaine withdrawal precipitates a range of psychological withdrawal symptoms such as cravings for the drug, paranoia, insomnia and panic attacks. Chronic cocaine users may also experience a form of psychosis during withdrawal. Symptoms include hallucinations, aggression and severe paranoia.

By far the best way to treat these symptoms is to undergo rehabilitation at a residential cocaine treatment provider. During rehab, you receive 24/7 medical attention until the above withdrawal symptoms have dissipated.

These acute withdrawal symptoms last for around five to seven days.

Once psychological withdrawal symptoms have dissipated it is essential that clients receive therapy. Therapy sessions typically include ’12 step’ work, psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and holistic therapy.

Some research papers indicate cocaine is the most problematic drug addiction to treat. Theses researchers claim only heroin addiction is harder to treat.

For this reason, we highly recommend clients undergo cocaine addiction at a residential clinic. This means clients are completely removed from their ‘using environment’ whilst therapy takes place.

Other Common Ways Of Beating A Cocaine Addiction

Now we outline other (less effective) ways of beating cocaine addiction. The majority of this information of gathered during ‘group therapy’ sessions taking place at our residential rehab clinic. We urge cocaine addicts to adopt many of the below strategies in conjunction to attending a residential rehab programme:

• Avoiding social situations where cocaine is commonly consumed. Some addicts even move home in order to avoid external ‘triggers’ of cocaine use
• Avoiding certain ‘friends’ who also use cocaine
• Increasing physical exercise and improving diet
• Seeking out new hobbies and sports
• Seeking out the services of an addiction counsellor/therapist on an ‘out-client’ basis.

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John Gillen - Author - Last updated: February 24, 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.