When it comes to detoxing from cocaine use, whether it’s infrequent or chronic, it is crucial that you are medically monitored. Individuals who undergo detoxification at home are less likely to be successful and more likely to suffer extreme symptoms without relief.
At Valley Recovery & Treatment, our addiction treatment programs are designed with your health and safety in mind. State-of-the-art treatment and design mean that our clients have access to the best and newest therapeutic treatments in our high-quality facilities.
What Is Cocaine?
Cocaine is most often found in a white powder form but can be dissolved with baking soda to create crack cocaine, which may look like shards of clear or white glass. Cocaine is a stimulant that impacts the central nervous system by increasing the speed of necessary body functions.
Cocaine has many similarities and differences to other stimulants. For example, while cocaine and other stimulants (like methamphetamines) are both fast-acting, cocaine is processed through the system in about an hour while other stimulants can take 12-24 hours to completely process through the system. This means that cocaine use is most often binge used, meaning that people will take multiple hits in a day to maintain the high.
With cocaine, binge use can be as detrimental as chronic use and lead to addiction just the same.
What Are the Signs of Cocaine Addiction?
Stimulants give off several distinctive signs of use. For example, an individual using cocaine or crack may appear jittery, have bruising around injection sites, or have frequent nose bleeds from snorting the drug. This in combination with other signs of use like, “extreme happiness and energy, mental alertness, hypersensitivity to light, sound, and touch, irritability, [and] paranoia” are common short-term effects of cocaine use.
Long-term cocaine use can lead to:
- Constricted blood vessels
- Dilated pupils
- Nausea
- Raised body temperature and blood pressure
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Tremors and muscle twitches
- Restlessness
- Snorting: loss of smell, nosebleeds, frequent runny nose, and problems with swallowing
- Smoking: cough, asthma, respiratory distress, and higher risk of infections like pneumonia
- Consuming by mouth: severe bowel decay from reduced blood flow
- Needle injection: higher risk for contracting HIV, hepatitis C, and other bloodborne diseases, skin or soft tissue infections, as well as scarring or collapsed veins”
While cocaine addicts often display these physical symptoms of use, there are also many psychological signs that may be present. An addicted individual may engage more frequently in risky behaviors, they may lie or steal to obtain what is needed for use, and you may notice significant changes in productivity at work and home, changes to important relationships/friend groups, and changes to weight and personal hygiene.
How to Detox From Cocaine Safely
Cocaine is a dangerous stimulant. In order to detox from the drug safely, you should go through withdrawal and detoxification under the care of a medical professional.
Cocaine withdrawal symptoms can cause dangerous physical and emotional reactions in the body. “Depression, fatigue, increased appetite, unpleasant dreams, and insomnia, and slowed thinking” are very common symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. Agitation slowed activity, and cravings are also common for individuals going through cocaine withdraw.
Under the care of a medical professional, individuals who need guidance with how to detox from cocaine safely can get directed medical attention to guide them through the process and ensure their physical and mental health.
Valley Recovery & Treatment
At Valley Recovery & Treatment, clients can access comprehensive rehabilitative treatment for stimulants, opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol addiction. We believe personalized treatment works best for clients and support each person through tailored rehabilitative treatment plans. All treatments through our residential and intensive outpatient treatment centers combine the best holistic treatments to provide individuals with the most thorough and supportive therapeutic experience.
Contact Valley Recovery & Treatment today. Our team of experts will help you find which treatment center is ideal for your specific rehabilitation needs because recovery is possible.
