Making the decision to find a cocaine rehab is the first step toward recovery. Once someone admits to struggling with cocaine abuse, the only way to go is forward. At our Banyan Sebring drug rehab, cocaine addiction treatment involves medically assisted detox and inpatient therapy to help clients recover both their physical and mental health. Drug use can take a toll on the individual’s loved ones as well. This is why our facility also provides family counseling to help parents, children, and spouses heal, mend broken relationships, and build a support system that clients can go home to after rehab. Keep reading to find out how we can help you get clean.
Facts About Cocaine
Also known as crack, cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug commonly sold on the streets. It comes in the form of a fine white powder that dealers may dilute or “cut” with other additives, such as flour, baking soda, and cornstarch, to increase their profits.
Dealers may also add other drugs like fentanyl, amphetamine, or heroin to cocaine to make it more addictive and keep clients coming back for more. To use cocaine, people may snort the powder, rub it into their gums, swallow it, or dissolve it in water before injecting it intravenously (in a vein, also known as IV.)
Cocaine may also come in the form of a crystal – crack cocaine – which some people use to get high by heating it and inhaling the fumes. Cocaine stimulates the release of dopamine and prevents the brain from reabsorbing it, causing it to flood.
This flood in dopamine produces a euphoric high while increasing alertness, energy, and attention. The physical effects of cocaine usually occur immediately and last about 15 to 30 minutes, but most often, people who abuse the drug use it in binge episodes.
During binge episodes, cocaine users will take high doses of the drug within a short period to maintain their high since the effects are as short-lived as they are immediate. Higher doses of cocaine are required in users that develop a tolerance for the drug, which requires them to take higher doses to feel the same effects.
After a while of use, their body eventually becomes accustomed to the drug’s impact on the brain and dopamine and becomes reliant on it to feel good. When a person addicted to cocaine doesn’t use it for a while, they eventually begin to experience withdrawals.
Why Is Cocaine Illegal?
Cocaine is illegal due to its high potential for abuse and addiction, as well as its severe negative effects on the body and mind. In addition to its harmful effects on individuals, cocaine use can also negatively impact communities and society. The production and distribution of cocaine are often associated with organized crime, violence, and corruption. The illegal drug trade can fuel criminal activity and undermine the rule of law, leading to broader societal harm. As a result, many governments have criminalized the possession, use, and sale of cocaine to protect individuals and society from the negative consequences of this dangerous drug.
Because cocaine has a few recognized medical applications, such as it can be used as a local anesthetic during some surgical operations, cocaine is classified as a Schedule II substance by the Restricted Substances Act. However, it is strictly regulated and only accessible with a prescription. Despite having certain medical applications, cocaine is thought to have a significant potential for abuse, dependence, and addiction, in addition to having very bad consequences on the body and the psyche. This means that without a legitimate prescription or license, it is prohibited to possess, use, or sell.
Why Is Cocaine So Addictive?
Cocaine has a high potential for abuse and addiction because of its impact on dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for pleasure. This explains its title as the brain’s reward system. As a result, dopamine builds up in the synapses of the brain, leading to a heightened sense of euphoria and energy. This intense pleasure can be highly reinforcing, making individuals want to seek out and use cocaine repeatedly, to replicate the experience. Over time, this repeated use can lead to changes in the brain's reward pathways, making individuals more likely to crave and use cocaine despite the negative consequences.
Furthermore, cocaine use can result in both physical and psychological dependence. Long-term usage can alter the chemistry and function of the brain, which can make it challenging for people to experience joy or contentment without the drug. Depression, anxiety, and strong cravings are just a few of the unpleasant symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. Because of this, once someone becomes hooked on cocaine, it might be difficult for them to stop taking it.
Signs of Cocaine Use
A cocaine addicted person will eventually begin to display physical and behavioral signs. These can range in severity and will be experienced differently based on factors like how much cocaine was taken, any preexisting conditions, and for how long the abuse has occurred.
Cocaine use signs can include:
- Burst of energy
- Constricted blood vessels
- Decreased appetite and weight loss
- Dilated pupils
- Increased body temperature and blood pressure
- Increased happiness and mental alertness
- Increased heartbeat
- Increased sensitivity to sound, sight, and touch
- Irritability and anger
- Lack of hygiene
- Less interest in activities that were once enjoyable
- Lying and stealing from family members
- Muscle twitching
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Neglecting responsibilities at school, work, or home
- Oral health problems
- Paranoia
- Restlessness
- Spending time with people who use drugs
- Withdrawal from loved ones
Due to the drug’s impact on dopamine, cocaine can also take a toll on a person’s mental health. Psychological problems associated with long-term cocaine abuse include people with ADHD who use the drug to self medicate, psychotic behavior, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
If you or someone you know has displayed these signs, they probably need professional cocaine addiction treatment. Our cocaine rehab in Florida takes a multifaceted approach to treating substance use disorders to ensure that clients’ physical and mental health are addressed, so do not hesitate to reach out to us to learn how we can help you.
What Our Treatment for Cocaine Addiction Offers
Finding the right cocaine addiction treatment center for yourself or a loved one is a crucial step. You don’t want to potentially go to a rehab that does not have the client’s best interest in mind.
In addition to offering various facets of care to address withdrawals and relapse prevention strategies, it is also important that a cocaine rehab provides therapy for mental illness. Fortunately, our Sebring, FL, drug rehab offers this and more.
All our drug and alcohol treatment programs – including our cocaine addiction treatment program – are held on a residential level of care. Also known as inpatient treatment, clients receiving this form of care live at our facility for the duration of their programs. This level of care is most efficient for individuals who have more severe substance use disorders that require more in-depth care and those who need to be separated from the distractions and triggers that may present themselves at home. The first step of this program is medically assisted detox, during which clients are placed on a tapering schedule to help slowly flush cocaine out of their system.
Our medical team may administer medication to mitigate the severity of cocaine withdrawal symptoms and make clients as comfortable as possible. Until detox is complete, clients will receive round-the-clock support to ensure they are safe and healthy. Detox addresses withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings, which are often severe enough to encourage the individual to relapse and discontinue abstinence. By offering support in a safe and controlled environment, we reduce the risk of relapse and increase the individual’s chances of completing their cocaine rehab program.
Following detox, clients can then begin to work with our therapists to address the mental and behavioral aspects of the individual’s drug use, including any underlying mental illness. Our Highland County, Florida, substance abuse therapy includes methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that our therapists use to help clients change their behaviors, adopt better habits, and become accustomed to a sober lifestyle.
Finally, even after the individual’s program is complete, our cocaine addiction rehab continues to offer support through our alumni program. In this program, clients who have completed their treatment meet with our counselors to discuss their struggles and receive advice.
Adjusting to a sober lifestyle after rehab can be tough, which is why our aftercare services are important. No matter how severe the addiction is, our rehab for cocaine is here to help.
For more information about the addiction services available at our drug rehab in Sebring, FL, contact Banyan Treatment Centers and speak with a specialist today!
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