Cocaine is a potent stimulant drug that people abuse to experience euphoric and energetic effects. While cocaine can be used medicinally as an anesthetic, safer and more effective drugs have made the substance obsolete in the medical field.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 27,788,000 people aged 12 or older used cocaine at some point in their lifetime.
If you or a loved one abuse cocaine, it is likely that you will develop a substance use disorder. Addiction to cocaine can be incredibly difficult to overcome without professional help. When you have a dependence on cocaine, suddenly stopping the use of it will result in withdrawal symptoms.
Cocaine withdrawal must be treated by a medically supervised detox center. These programs will monitor your vitals to ensure you remain stable while offering medications to lessen your symptoms. Medical detox increases your chances of success in recovery from cocaine addiction.
What is Cocaine?
Cocaine is a substance that is derived from the leaves of the coca plant, primarily found in South America. Originally, cocaine was used in the United States as an anesthetic. While cocaine is still accepted for medicinal use in America, it is rarely used because there are safer and more effective alternatives.
Today, cocaine is known as a drug of abuse. If you misuse cocaine, you are likely doing so to experience side effects like a rush of euphoria and intense energy. That being said, abusing cocaine can also lead to adverse effects, such as heart attacks, respiratory failure, strokes, and seizures.
The common effects of cocaine include:
- A rush of euphoria
- Increased energy
- Chattiness
- Mental alertness
- Hypersensitivity to sight, sound, and touch
- Decreased need for food and sleep
- Dilated pupils
- Constricted blood vessels
- Increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure
- Restlessness and irritability
- Anxiety or panic
- Shaking or tremors
- Paranoia or erratic behavior
If you abuse cocaine, you are most likely snorting it. When snorting cocaine, the effects will begin within 3 to 5 minutes. Typically, the effects of cocaine subside after 30 minutes, which might cause you to begin binging on the drug.
What are the Symptoms of Cocaine Withdrawal?
If you are struggling with cocaine addiction, that means your brain and body are relying on the substance to function. Suddenly stopping its use will result in withdrawal symptoms. While cocaine withdrawal is usually not life-threatening, it can be impossible to cope with without medical assistance.
The common symptoms of cocaine withdrawal include:
- Agitation and restlessness
- Depression and suicidal thoughts
- Fatigue
- General feelings of discomfort like runny nose or muscle aches
- Increased appetite
- Vivid nightmares
- Slowed activity
- Intense cravings for cocaine
Since cocaine withdrawal can be hard to overcome, you should always seek a medical detox treatment program. The detox process involves stabilizing your condition, offering medications to lessen symptoms, and preparing you for further treatment like an inpatient rehab program.
Why is Detox Important for Cocaine Addiction?
Cocaine withdrawal is not life-threatening, so you might be tempted to try to overcome it on your own. However, detoxing from cocaine at home is never advised, as this puts you at an increased risk of relapsing.
When you stop using cocaine, you will experience withdrawal symptoms like irritability, extreme depression, and feelings of discomfort. These symptoms can become so severe that you begin to believe that abusing cocaine is the only way to feel better.
Once you have been off of cocaine for a bit of time, you will lose your tolerance for the drug. If you relapse and attempt to use the amount you used to consume, you could experience a life-threatening overdose.
Because detoxing from cocaine on your own can lead to relapses and an increased risk of overdose, you should always seek help from a medical detox program.
What to Expect During a Cocaine Detox Center in Charlotte
Cocaine detox programs like Charlotte Detox Center prioritize your health and comfort by offering clinically proven treatments for withdrawal. First, they will stabilize you physically and provide you with medications to lessen your withdrawal symptoms. These programs will also ensure you remain mentally safe by employing mental health professionals around the clock.
During cocaine detox in Charlotte, you can expect the following services:
Assessment
The first step in detox is getting to know more about you. The medical professionals will conduct an in-depth assessment where they ask questions about your physical and mental health as well as your history of cocaine or crack cocaine abuse.
This information will be used to create an individualized detox plan that helps the recovery process run smoothly.
Medical Monitoring
Once your detox plan is created, you will begin treatment. Doctors and nurses will monitor your vital signs consistently to ensure you remain stable. This might include checking your temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and more.
Medication Management
In addition to medical monitoring, you will be offered medications to manage your withdrawal symptoms. While there is not one medication that was created to alleviate cocaine withdrawal, doctors will use drugs that specifically target the symptoms you are dealing with. For example, you might receive an anti-depressant medication that helps prevent suicidal ideation and mood changes like irritability.
Mental Health Support
Cocaine withdrawal causes a surplus of psychological symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and mood swings. Because of this, detox centers ensure that there are mental health professionals on standby to support you when your symptoms become difficult to manage.
Additionally, you will participate in individual counseling and group therapy during your stay in detox. These services help you uncover the root causes of your addiction, cope with withdrawal, and prepare you for further treatment in a rehab center.
Treatment Planning
Lastly, once you overcome cocaine withdrawal you will begin treatment planning with your doctor and therapist. They will help you look at your treatment options to determine whether your next step should be inpatient rehab, outpatient treatment, or a combination of both.
Get Connected to a Reputable Cocaine Detox Program in Charlotte
If you or a loved one suffers from cocaine addiction, it’s time to seek help. The first step in recovering from addiction is always medical detox. At Charlotte Detox Center, we can help you overcome withdrawal safely and comfortably.
Contact us today to learn more about our cocaine detox program in Charlotte.
(866) 242-3814
