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Cocaine Abuse Treatment

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is an extremely addictive stimulant with high abuse potential, plaguing our streets. Originally, cocaine was used in many different things, be it by doctors to block pain, or even in the early formulas of Coca-Cola. Of course, we now know that it is a very addictive, harmful drug that can alter brain function and cause severe physical effects if consumed in great quantities. What makes the drug most dangerous, is that the powder form is typically mixed or cut with other substances. Sometimes corn starch, talcum powder or sugar, though other times it can be mixed with amphetamines and other toxic chemicals. When obtained on the street, it is impossible to determine what the powder was mixed with, causing a potentially dangerous experience that can lead to health complications or death.

Cocaine Abuse

Cocaine use tends to range from occasional to repeated abuse, to full on addiction. Administration may lead to bodily absorption of toxic levels of the drug. This may cause heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and sudden death. Injecting cocaine greatly increases risk of addiction, as well as even more serious behavioral or physical side effects. It is even more intense than snorting the powder form. As is expected with addiction, prolonged cocaine abuse can alter the brain’s physical composition and create tolerance and dependence. Cocaine cut with harmful or toxic chemicals can highly increase changes of overdose or death.

There are many ways that cocaine abuse can physically and mentally affect the body. Below are just a few things that may change about you or your loved one if they use cocaine for an extended period of time:

Short-term effects of cocaine use may include:

  • Constricted blood vessels
  • Dilated pupils
  • Increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure
  • Tremors
  • Violent behavior
  • Anxiety

Long-term effects of cocaine abuse may include:

  • Tolerance
  • Nasal irritation or damage
  • Lung damage or failure
  • Risk of bloodborne infection such as HIV/Hepatitis C
  • Heart inflammation or failure
  • Cognitive dysfunction
  • Stroke
  • Brain hemorrhaging

Identifying Cocaine Abuse

Addiction hurts. Substance abuse to any chemical can have a painful impact on your life, health and well-being. Cocaine abuse can have an extremely negative effect on the body, and to your loved ones. Because you are not yourself when you are high, or in active addiction, it can dramatically alter or break your existing relationships with loved ones. Do you think you or someone you love may have a problem with cocaine? Identifying drug abuse use is not always easy. The warning signs may be nearly imperceptible if the user mostly only abuses in a recreational setting, or is trying to conceal their use. Even infrequent or recreational use of potent drugs can cause physical side effects, such as dependence, or reduced overall health. In rare cases, it only takes one use to overdose depending on your body chemistry.

Signs of Cocaine Abuse May Include:

  • Planning activities around cocaine use or being unable to participate in activities without using first
  • Engaging in other high-risk behaviors
  • Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
  • Continuing to use despite negative side effects
  • Withdrawal symptoms and/or cravings when not using
  • Financial struggles due to spending income on cocaine
  • Excessive or explosive energy – more than usual

If you recognize any of these signs in yourself or others, you may have a cocaine problem and require medical help to safely detox.

Withdrawal from Cocaine

To overcome cocaine abuse, proper treatment is paramount. Without the medical supervision and assistance a certified and accredited detox facility provides, serious damage may result from cocaine withdrawal. Because We Care, Royal Life Centers is committed to providing the safest, most effective medication-assisted cocaine detox. It is important to us that our guests have the most comfortable experience possible, detoxing safely with proper supervision. After that, treatment is followed by carefully structured, individualized medical regiments, an intensive therapy program both group and one on one, and extensive aftercare options.

Withdrawal from cocaine is mostly psychological, meaning it can be as emotionally exhausting as it physically painful. Symptoms may be felt as soon as 90 minutes after the last usage and may be felt for as long as seven to ten days. Withdrawal duration is generally influenced by the length of use and size of the drug dose. Your body’s overall health, age and history may also play a factor into the severity of withdrawal. Our goal at Royal Life Centers is to make detoxification from cocaine as smooth as possible, which is why our guests are monitored through and after detox and our medical staff is on site 24/7 to ensure safety and comfort. Withdrawal is never easy, but with the assistance of a medical team, it can be managed without the worry of relapse.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms May Include:

  • Exhaustion
  • Decreased cognitive ability
  • Anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)
  • Depression
  • Tremors and muscle pain
  • Increased appetite
  • Vivid dreams
  • Cravings

What Happens After Medical Detox?

Once they have completed medical detox at Royal Life Centers, guests will begin a comprehensive approach to substance abuse treatment designed to support physical, mental and spiritual wellness. We offer a variety of treatment options for recovery from drug addiction beyond just cocaine abuse. Our program helps to promote a lasting, sober lifestyle through sobriety and beyond. Our addiction specialists, from our therapists and case managers to our facility staff, are dedicated to providing the best in care and support. Our holistic, evidence-based approach to psychotherapy incorporates individual and group sessions. We use other holistic methods, such as art, music and animal therapy to help our guests to learn to express themselves and communicate. Our treatment features state-of-the-art activity, movement, and adventure therapies to create one program that treats mind, body, and spirit. At Royal Life Cent, we believe that emotional healing is just as important as physical healing.

Guests may begin their recovery journey in our residential inpatient program and continue with us through PHP, IOP, OP, and sober living at our graduate housing residences. At Royal Life Centers, the guest is always our top priority. We consistently do all we can to effect lasting change, that our patients might continue to lead healthy, sober lives long after they have left our care. This is not just our goal, but our mission.

Reach Out

If you or a loved one has a dependency or addiction to cocaine, or any substance use disorder, please reach out to us about your detox and treatment options. Royal Life Centers admissions staff is available 24/7 to answer your questions and address your concerns. We can be reached at 888-534-9140. Because We Care.

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