If someone is overdosing, call 911, or your local emergency services number, immediately. If you are qualified, administer CPR. Use Naloxone (Narcan) if available.
Cocaine is a very powerful and addictive stimulant drug made from coca leaves often harvested in South America. It is typically snorted, smoked, or injected. Common slang terms for cocaine include coke, blow, ‘big C’, snow, speedball, nose candy, rail, or line.
Effects of Cocaine
When cocaine is first ingested, it can cause increased energy, alertness, and euphoria. It can also raise body temperature, increase heart rate, reduce appetite, and constrict blood vessels.
Long-term cocaine use can cause cardiovascular issues like heart attacks, respiratory issues like chronic bronchitis, and nervous system damage that results in cognitive impairments, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating. Habitual cocaine use can cause the onset of and heighten anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. Snorting and smoking cocaine can also lead to tooth decay and gum disease.
Risks of Cocaine
Since cocaine is so addictive, it’s possible for users to ingest too much and overdose. Overdose occurs when a high amount of cocaine is ingested, and the stimulating effects on the central nervous system cause life-threatening reactions. Symptoms of an overdose include heart attacks, seizures, or respiratory failure, where breathing becomes slow, shallow, or even stops completely. Without immediate medical intervention, a cocaine overdose can be fatal.
Drug dealers may also cut cocaine with cheaper ingredients to up their profits, such as fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that is extremely easy to overdose on. Ingesting a small amount of cocaine that has fentanyl can be life-threatening. Fentanyl overdose typically causes respiratory failure and should be treated the same way as a cocaine overdose.
If someone is overdosing, call 911, or your local emergency services number, immediately. If you are qualified, administer CPR. Use Naloxone (Narcan) if available.
Detoxing from Cocaine
Detox will rid your body of cocaine and can be a great step towards recovery. Detox must be done under medical supervision to ensure safety.
Cocaine detox can last 3–5 days. Withdrawal symptoms begin within 24 hours of quitting. Symptoms include:
- Agitation and irritability
- Depression
- Increased sleeping and appetite
- Muscle aches
- Paranoia
Detox can be abstinence-based or assisted with medications such as methadone and buprenorphine. These medications are opioid receptor antagonists, meaning they attach to and activate opioid receptors in the brain to ease withdrawal symptoms. These medications can be used long-term if necessary.
Questions to Ask Your Provider about Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
If you are considering MAT for cocaine recovery, it's important to have an open discussion with your healthcare provider to make informed decisions about your treatment plan. You can ask questions like:
- What medications are available for cocaine addiction?
- What are the benefits and potential side effects of each medication?
- How long should I plan to be on medication as part of my treatment?
- Can the medications be addictive themselves, and how will you monitor and manage this aspect?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I should make while on MAT?
Rehab for Cocaine
After detox, you’ll begin therapy to get to the root of your addiction and learn coping skills to manage cravings. Some people with cocaine addiction may need a more intensive level of care to help monitor and manage their symptoms. When talking to your doctor, consider discussing which level of care best fits your needs:
- Outpatient (OP): You’ll meet 1-2x per week with your provider and others in treatment.
- Intensive outpatient (IOP): You’ll meet 3-5x per week for several hours at a time for more intensive care.
- Partial hospitalization (PHP): You’ll meet 5-7 times a week for a full day.
- Residential: You’ll live in a rehab for 28+ days and engage in treatment with a comprehensive staff and a community of peers.
- Inpatient: You’ll live in a treatment center or hospital-like setting and have 24/7 monitoring.
Managing cocaine addiction can be a complex and individualized process. Working with a licensed professional who’s experienced in cocaine addiction can help guide you through the healing process. They will provide you with appropriate tools, techniques, and support tailored to your specific needs. You may engage in talk therapies such as
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to learn how to replace unhealthy thought patterns with more affirming ones.
- Contingency management (CM) provides positive reinforcement, such as rewards or incentives, for maintaining abstinence from cocaine.
- Relapse prevention counseling to learn techniques to manage addiction cravings and other symptoms.
- Motivational interviewing to explore the reasons why you want to recover and use that purpose to motivate change.
Can You Relapse on Cocaine?
Yes, it is possible to relapse on cocaine. If this happens, talk to your doctor and seek professional treatment. You may participate in programs that focus on relapse prevention planning along with skills-building and evidence-based therapies.
Relapse isn’t a failure, but rather an opportunity to find treatment that better fits your needs and keeps you on the path to sobriety.
Questions to Ask Your Provider
If you’re looking for cocaine treatment, talk to your primary care doctor. They can refer you to a substance use rehab to start your recovery. When talking to your provider, consider asking these questions:
- What are the benefits of the different types of treatment available? What are the risks?
- Are there any specific medical or psychiatric assessments I should do before starting treatment?
- What does relapse prevention planning look like?
- Is there treatment that can address any co-occurring disorders that I have?
- Does insurance cover treatment?
How Can I Find Support?
- Rehabs for Cocaine
- Telehealth Provider
- Talk to a supportive friend or family member
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Talk to your primary care physician