Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

What Happens in Cocaine Detox?

Cocaine addicts well know how uncomfortable drug withdrawal can be. When detoxing, withdrawal effects come on in full force, an experience that no regular cocaine user wants to face.

The truth of the matter is cocaine detox offers the only means for breaking the drug’s hold over the body. There’s no getting around this essential stage when trying to overcome addiction.

Attempting cocaine detox on one’s own will likely be an excruciating process overall. For this reason, many addicts turn to cocaine detox programs to help them make it through this critical stage. Cocaine detox programs offer the types of physical and emotional supports needed to overcome the damaging effects from long-term drug use.

Cocaine Withdrawal

During cocaine detox, addicts experience what’s known as the cocaine withdrawal syndrome. Any time a person uses an addictive substance for any length of time, the body starts to experience withdrawal when needed amounts of the drug are lacking. While different types of drugs do produce their own sets of withdrawal symptoms, cocaine withdrawal syndromes can be especially harsh, according to the U. S. National Library of Medicine.

Cocaine has a stimulant-type effect, forcing brain and central nervous system processes to work faster. Over the course of long-term use, cocaine disrupts chemical processes throughout these areas and eventually damages brain cells and bodily structures in the process.

The cocaine withdrawal syndrome results from the brain’s attempt to compensate for rampant chemical imbalances throughout the body. Considering the damage that’s taken place, the brain is working at a diminished capacity, which accounts for the uncomfortable symptoms experienced while detoxing. In effect, withdrawal symptoms reflect the widespread damage that’s taken place.

Physical & Psychological Effects

Cocaine detoxification treatment can help you cope safely and effectively with withdrawal.

The longer a person uses cocaine the more likely he or she will develop medical and/or psychological disorders as a result of the drug’s damaging effects. Whether medical or psychological, a co-occurring disorder will likely aggravate the discomfort a person experiences during cocaine detox.

For most people, withdrawal symptoms take the form of –

Drastic fluctuations in body temperature
Tremors
Fatigue
Aches and pains in the muscles and bones
Depression
Bouts of anxiety
Confused thinking
Restlessness
Irritability
Incessant drug cravings

As a general rule, the severity of the addiction determines how intense withdrawal symptoms will be.

Treatment Interventions

While it’s possible to detox on one’s own, cocaine detox programs are equipped to help ease the discomfort experienced during the withdrawal stage. These programs use medication therapies and counseling supports to help a person make it through the withdrawal process.

Other treatment interventions used include –

Drug education training
Nutrition-based meal-planning
Vitamin and mineral replacement treatment
Psychotherapy
Exercise routines
12-Step support groups

As cocaine detox can quickly bottom-out a person’s emotional stability, treatment programs administer antidepressant medications to help relieve depression symptoms. In cases where full-blown depression and/or anxiety disorders have taken root, antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications can be administered accordingly.

More than anything else, these programs provide the needed emotional supports that keep a person motivated to get well, which can make all the difference in the world during the detox stage.

More Treatment & Detox Articles

60 repeat DUI offenders successfully complete year in Akron Municipal Court’s treatment program

The only detail Doug remembers clearly of his drunken drive home from a friend’s house last year is being arrested at the end of it. It wasn’t the first time Doug had gotten caught behind the wheel after a night of drinking. But thanks to a treatment-based program at Akron Municipal Court, it was his….

Brain imaging study offers insight into alcohol's effect on brain

A new brain imaging study has provided insight into alcohol’s effect on the brain. The study showed that after consuming alcohol, social drinkers had decreased sensitivity in brain regions involved in detecting threats, and increased activity in brain regions involved in reward. This is the first human brain imaging study of alcohol’s effect on the….

Alcohol Check-In Sees Record Crowd

Drawn by the promise of free water bottles, more than 1,330 students flocked to the Malkin Athletic Center last Friday for National Alcohol Screening Day, marking a record level of participation that rose by almost 40 percent from last year. The annual event, which takes place at hospitals, community centers, and universities around the country,….

Your Social Network Affects Your Drinking Habits

People who socialize with heavy drinkers are more likely to imbibe a bit too much themselves. And the same holds true for teetotalers: Those who have non-drinking friends and relatives are more likely not to consume alcohol themselves, a new study found. “People are organized by their drinking behavior more than would be predicted by….

Choosing Between Arizona Treatment Centers for a Loved One

Helping a loved one find needed drug treatment can make a life-changing difference in the life of your loved one. Compared to other states, Arizona carried a higher than average rate for drug-related fatalities in 2008, according to the Arizona Drug Control Update. Arizona also ranks highest in the number of people who reported using….