Do you have a loved one that is suffering from addiction?
At Alpine Recovery Lodge, we understand the importance of proper rehabilitation and cocaine detox.
Families contact us every day to learn more about cocaine addiction. They want to know more about treatment options and how the recovery process works.
It’s perfectly natural to want to understand the process. You want to know what your loved one will go through during their cocaine detox.
That’s why we’ve compiled the following list of eight things to know about cocaine detox. Find out what happens to the body, both physically and mentally, during cocaine withdrawal and detoxification.
The purpose of cocaine detox in Utah is to help addicts with the withdrawal symptoms.
You may be wondering why this medically supervised withdrawal is a better solution than going it alone. The main advantages include increased chances of recovery and a reduced risk of complications.
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms can be severe. The heart rate can increase, blood pressure rises, and the sufferer is at greater risk of heart attack or other health issues. This is why medically supervised withdrawal is a safer solution.
When an individual goes through withdrawal under medical supervision, experts are prepared to help reduce the risks of cocaine detox. Specific medications may be used to limit the severity of the symptoms while also providing more comfort for the addict.
But, that’s only one aspect of the cocaine detoxification process.
Did you know that the symptoms of withdrawal can appear within hours of the last cocaine use? The onset of these issues is part of the reason that addiction can take such a tight hold of a person’s free will.
The most common cocaine withdrawal symptoms include:
Along with these problems, cocaine addicts will need to deal with the cravings, which often coincide with the general withdrawal.
The addict uses cocaine to prevent these symptoms, which can appear within an hour. Though, for a less intense user, they can take up to 24 hours or longer to appear.
That is why treatment should begin immediately. Typically, when a person enters our Utah treatment facilities, we begin with a pre-intake assessment, which allows us to prepare an individualized approach for each patient.
Being within the confines of a supervised cocaine detoxification program can help to reduce the severity of these initial symptoms. But, at the same time, it’s important for individuals to realize that some symptoms may last for awhile.
While the symptoms of cocaine withdrawal can appear quickly, they can also last for months. Some of the more severe symptoms may take longer to deal with. This includes the cravings that a user may suffer from and the depression associated with withdrawal.
Dealing with these cravings and the depression is an important step in recovery. It’s difficult to overcome an addiction on your own. Between 50 and 90 percent of cocaine users will relapse if they attempt to kick their addiction on their own.
Similar studies indicate that the more time you spend in a treatment facility, the greater your chances of long-term sobriety. Instead of a 30-day treatment, you might have better chances of remaining clean with a 90-day treatment.
The help of a supportive team, including family, can lessen the depression. But, it will be a day-to-day struggle to fight the cravings.
The cocaine detoxification period gives a person time to gain the tools and resources needed to deal with these cravings in the real world. Though, the treatment doesn’t end when patients leave our facilities. Ongoing support and counseling can improve the likelihood of staying clean.
All details related to addiction will vary from one individual to the next. But, the average detox period lasts between 3 and 7 days – or longer.
The duration, frequency, and dosage of cocaine can all impact the length of time needed to detox. Though, there are less known factors that rehab specialists need to consider when treating a patient. This includes the presence of mental or physical disorders, along with the abuse of other substances.
Mental disorders, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) can affect the severity of certain withdrawal symptoms. The depression can be more difficult to treat, especially if these mental disorders are not considered as part of the treatment plan.
Physical disorders, along with health complications, may also complicate matters. As we’ve discussed, cocaine use increases the heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack.
During withdrawal, the threat of heart attack is increased. Specific drugs may be needed during the cocaine detox process to decrease this risk.
An individual suffering from an addiction may be dependent on more than one drug. In addition to cocaine, if other drugs are present in the system, a detox could take longer or the addict could experience more severe withdrawal symptoms.
As mentioned earlier, the use of medications may be needed during the withdrawal process. Under medical supervision, patients may be given medications for treating anxiety or depression.
Both anxiety and depression are common during the detox period. Some of these feelings can persist after treatment, increasing the chances of relapse. This is particularly true for individuals that suffer from mood instabilities.
Addressing these mood instabilities will help with recovery. When a person begins detoxifying from cocaine use, dopamine levels will drop. For this reason, a medication called bromocriptine is often used in treatment centers. It helps maintain dopamine levels during this crucial period of withdrawal.
Along with treating anxiety and depression, medications may be needed to deal with the cravings. Amantadine is a drug that is often used to treat Parkinson’s disease that is also sometimes used to curb cravings as part of an inpatient treatment program.
Generally, any medication that has the potential for addiction is to be avoided without proper care. Under the right settings, such as an inpatient rehab facility, these medications can help improve the chances of successful recovery.
The first step in recovery is admitting that you have a problem. An addict will not be able to give up their addiction if they don’t believe that they have a problem.
When someone is unwilling to admit that they have a problem, then a lot of the effort in rehab will end up being wasted. There is a higher chance that the person will relapse as soon as they leave the treatment center.
If an addict is unwilling to face the fact that they have an addiction, then an intervention may be necessary. An intervention can help a drug user come to terms with their addiction.
These interventions may be performed with the help of family and friends or with the assistance of an addiction specialist. In fact, 90% of people commit to getting help after an intervention.
Something you need to know about cocaine detoxification is that this is just one step in an ongoing treatment plan. Some individuals may require additional inpatient treatment, an outpatient program, or a combination of inpatient and outpatient treatment.
With inpatient treatment, the patient has time to recover and learn new ways to cope with their addiction. They are shielded from outside influences and can work with medical professionals to prepare for life outside of the treatment facility.
In some situations, the patient may wish to live at home while continuing their recovery. With outpatient treatment, the addict will continue to attend counseling sessions, therapy, or specialized outpatient programs to remain clean.
Depending on the individual, a combination of both inpatient and outpatient treatment may be used. For example, a patient may choose to go to work during the day and return to the treatment facility in the evenings.
The main point is that this treatment will vary for everyone because everyone has a different response to detox…
The final thing you need to know about detox is that it is different for everyone. This was touched upon earlier, but there are numerous factors that influence the severity and duration of withdrawal symptoms.
An inpatient treatment program can help lessen these symptoms. Though, the seriousness of the addiction, frequency of use, and overall health and well-being of the patient will still impact the recovery period. No two experiences are the same.
That is why our team of experienced counselors always uses a custom plan for each patient. Using a combination of the latest treatment programs, we can find the very best therapeutic response.
Some of the treatments that we use include cognitive behavior therapy, the 12-step program, meditation, dual diagnosis, Yoga, holistic treatments, and emotional processing.
These programs can be completed as part of a 30-day or a 90-day inpatient rehabilitation plan. We also recommend ongoing support, as discussed above, to increase the effectiveness of long-term recovery.
If you or a loved one is suffering from cocaine addiction, we hope that this information has shed some light on the topic of cocaine detox. Learning more about this process can give you better peace of mind and trust in the process.
The detoxification of the body from cocaine use can last up to a week. During this period, there are multiple symptoms, which vary in intensity depending on the severity of the drug use. Medications may help with this process.
Once the detox is completed, addicts can benefit from continued treatment. The healing process doesn’t end once the drug is out of the system. The user needs to continue to combat their cravings on a daily basis – through a combination of willpower and help from others, such as group therapy.
Did you find this information about cocaine detox helpful? Please share this knowledge with friends or family that may be dealing with addiction. Use the share buttons to pass this info along.
Or, you can go ahead and contact us at Alpine Recovery Lodge to learn if our individualized Utah drug treatment plans are the right option for you or a family member.
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