Cocaine Addiction Treatment Center in Florida

According to various sources, approximately 15 percent of Americans have used cocaine recreationally. Cocaine is an extremely addictive drug made from Coca plant extract. This drug is generally processed in a lab and consumed in powder form. It often resembles a white, crystalline powder and can be mixed or “cut” with other, similar substances (baking soda, sugars, or anesthetics) that make it less efficient and more dangerous. The majority of cocaine found in America is produced in South America and imported through Mexico.

Cocaine goes by several different names, including coke, blow, crack, or snow. Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that is illegal for recreational use in the United States. Stimulants, like cocaine, affect the neuro-pathways of your brain, leading you to feel euphoric, extremely active, overly excited, or even manic. Cocaine is a highly addictive substance and users can become addicted after only one or two uses.

Addiction to cocaine can happen extremely easily and cocaine addiction treatment is absolutely necessary to overcome the addiction. Cocaine addiction can affect both the mind and the body and lead to physical cocaine withdrawal as well as extreme cravings.

Cocaine is a versatile drug that can be ingested in multiple ways. It can be “snorted” (or inhaled) or can be melted down and injected. It can even be ingested rectally or vaginally. One of the most common ways of use is to smoke it as “crack cocaine”. This easy method brought cocaine use to the forefront of the national consciousness and brought long-term cocaine use and addiction into the limelight.

Cocaine has powerful, albeit short-term stimulant effects on the user. The use of cocaine causes the release of Dopamine, a naturally occurring neurotransmitter, that can cause the user to feel intense pleasure or euphoria.

Cocaine also prevents the dopamine (and other neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin) from being ingested into the nerve cells. This blockage allows large amounts of euphoria-causing neurotransmitters to accumulate, causing intense, short-lived highs. Cocaine can also result in a reduced desire to carry out normal daily tasks, such as eating, sleeping, or socializing. The energy one feels during cocaine can lead very quickly to addiction and physical dependency.

Using cocaine frequently can lead to physical dependency. The use of higher doses of cocaine to achieve a high, especially when it has been “cut” with other substances, can lead to seeking more and more to fill a need. This can lead to intense cocaine withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, intense sweating, and uncontrollable behavior.

Cocaine use disorders can have serious health effects on almost everything  in the body including the cardiovascular system. The physical and psychological effects of cocaine use are numerous, with many of them being extremely dangerous. Some negative effects you can expect to feel from cocaine use are as follows:

Cocaine addiction can develop very quickly after starting a long-term cocaine usage and can be extremely difficult to kick. One of the keys is recognizing the signs of addiction early and seeking help as soon as possible before severe physical symptoms manifest. Some of the most common signs of cocaine addiction are:

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cocaine is extremely addictive because of the ease and speed with which it rewires the brain. Cocaine acts as an extreme stimulant, triggering the production of the naturally-occurring chemical dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is associated with pleasure. Brain pathways communicate using dopamine when they experience pleasurable sensations. Because cocaine can overload the neurons, it can cause a build-up of dopamine that leads to extreme highs and lows.

Cocaine use throws a wrench in the communication between neurons, causing excessive build-up. When cocaine enters the bloodstream, an abnormal amount of dopamine is released, causing the body to crave more. The more frequently this dopamine release occurs, the more likely someone’s brain is to be permanently “rewired”, resulting in addiction and tolerance.

According to a 2018 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, approximately 2% of teenagers reported cocaine use. In contrast, young adults ages 18 to 25 reportedly used cocaine at a rate of 6%. Approximately 5% of those studied between 25 and 35 reported using cocaine. These statistics reveal that the availability and affordability of cocaine can increase with age. Some other statistics of note are as follow:

Hospitalization and deaths due to cocaine use/overdose have increased every year since 2017. This could be attributed to increased availability as well as environmental factors such as the increased likelihood that cocaine may be mixed with harmful impurities, such as bleach. Since there is no regulation of cocaine, dealers often mix it with household substances to stretch the product.

The rate of cocaine overdose has also increased every year since 2017. The ethnic demographics of overdose are the same as reported above, with Caucasians presenting the highest reported likelihood of overdose.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that the chance of relapse considering all types of substance abuse is between 40%-60%. Sadly, it is extremely common for cocaine users who enter cocaine addiction treatment to relapse, especially in the first year. In order to prevent continued cocaine use and relapse, individuals should focus on: Maintaining healthy support systems like family and local support groups, continuing therapy, and avoiding situations involving cocaine use. Thankfully, there are many different types of treatments that can prove effective in treating substance use disorder.

From 2013-2018, cocaine accounted for nearly 7 percent of admissions to treatment facilities. The majority of these (as much as 68% in 2013) admissions admitted to using more than just cocaine. Any treatment for cocaine needs to be able to address the addictive tendencies as well as treat the physical signs of addiction.

While there are some ways to ease the difficulties of cocaine withdrawal, there are currently no USDA approved drug treatments for cocaine abuse. However, while in drug abuse treatment, addicts may receive medication that helps with some of the more severe psychological side-effects of cocaine addiction, such as depression and severe anxiety. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Lexapro or Celexa may be prescribed to “take the edge off”.

While not universally successful, Disulfiram, which is used to treat alcoholism, has shown some success in treating cocaine addiction. There are also controlled clinical trials being undertaken on a “vaccine” for cocaine addiction that would aim to prevent relapse.

Most of these pharmacological treatments are not widely used and should be secondary to in-person therapeutic options.

At Behavioral Health Centers, we have several proven options to treat cocaine addiction at our disposal. These can include but are not limited to the following cocaine addiction treatment programs:

Defeating a cocaine drug addiction can be a difficult task, and it is extremely important to have trusted medical professionals there by your side. Behavioral Health Centers is here to offer you a customized plan that will help you beat cocaine addiction. Our clinical detox programs are consistently rated as some of the best in Florida, and we are ready to add you to our list of success stories.

If you or a loved one is suffering from substance abuse or alcohol abuse, don’t wait, get help today. To learn more about what treatment options are available, contact us today!