If your cocaine misuse is affecting your life in serious ways, it’s time to seek treatment. Getting help is the first step to recovering from a problem that can lead to addiction, health problems, and strained relationships. There are many different types of treatment, and the best option for you will depend on your unique circumstances. Generally, treatment for cocaine use disorder includes detox, rehab, and aftercare.
In the United States, there are thousands of drug rehabilitation cocaine misuse treatment centers that offer cocaine treatment. Finding the right one for you will depend on a variety of factors, such as location, cost, and whether your insurance covers treatment. You may also want to consider a rehab that specializes in co-occurring substance abuse disorders and mental health issues.
Cocaine addiction is classified as a stimulant use disorder, and it is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Edition 5 (DSM-5). People who suffer from this condition are considered to have a “mild” or “moderate” form of the disorder if they meet two or more of the criteria for the condition. Those who meet four or more of the criteria are diagnosed with a “severe” form of the disorder.
The most effective treatment for cocaine addiction is usually a residential program that offers inpatient care. This type of program provides a safe and comfortable environment where you can focus completely on your recovery without the distractions of everyday life. Typically, these programs last 30 to 90 days and include counseling sessions with a therapist and group support meetings. Treatment approaches that focus on behavior have the most promising results, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
In addition to detox and rehab, cocaine treatment often involves ongoing group support groups and individual counseling. These activities help you deal with cravings and triggers during recovery, and they teach you new coping skills. Many people find that these groups provide the structure and motivation they need to stay on track with their recovery goals after they leave treatment.
Cravings for cocaine are a normal part of the addiction process, and it’s important to recognize them as such so that you can avoid falling back into old behaviors. Often, cravings are triggered by stress or other situations that can cause relapse. Terence Gorski, author of Understanding Relapse, describes relapse as being like knocking over a series of dominoes. Each event triggers the next, and ultimately, the dominoes fall in a way that leads to cocaine use again.
There are some medications that can help with cocaine addiction, but they’re not widely used because of the negative side effects that occur in early treatment. These drugs include anticonvulsants, disulfiram, anesthetics, antidepressants, and a number of psychostimulant agents. Researchers are also exploring the possibility of using acupuncture to treat cocaine addiction.
While it is possible to recover from cocaine addiction, relapse is common. This doesn’t mean that your treatment was ineffective, but it does indicate that you may need to try a different approach.