Whether using crack or cocaine, the odds of a person walking away from a daily drug habit are slim to nil without some form of professional treatment. Cocaine addiction treatment provides a safe environment for patients to detox, and gain back control of their lives.
Treatment for cocaine addiction requires the drug user to have a strong desire to get well. It also requires the person to have a solid, stable support system in place. Treatment for cocaine addiction builds upon these two requirements using behavioral therapies and community-based support.
Cocaine addiction rehab programs provide specialized treatment approaches designed to help addicts overcome the effects of cocaine on the mind and body. Cocaine’s laser-targeted effects on brain chemical processes can change a person’s overall personality and ability to manage everyday life affairs. In most instances, going through cocaine addiction treatment offers the only means for breaking the hold of the addiction.
Treatment Objectives
Chronic cocaine users often suffer from other psychological disorders that either existed before drug use or that resulted from long-term drug use. As psychological disorders tend to reinforce addictive behaviors, treating any underlying disorder becomes just as important as treating the addiction itself.
When ingested, cocaine stimulates the body’s central nervous system (CNS). To date, no medication-based treatments exist to counteract cocaine’s effects during the treatment process. Part of the reason for this has to do with the way CNS stimulants alter brain and body functions. The lack of medication treatments available for cocaine addiction places added emphasis on the importance of behavioral approaches in combating cocaine addiction. Behavioral treatments combined with ongoing, long-term community-based supports make up the list of treatments for cocaine addiction.
Goals of Cocaine Addiction Rehab Programs
People affected by long-term cocaine use develop both a physical and psychological dependence on the drug. The overall goals of cocaine rehab entail treating these dependencies with just as much emphasis placed on the psychological aspect as the physical.
Treating the psychological component requires ongoing counseling work where recovering addicts meet one-on-one with therapists. One-on-one counseling enables people to identify the root causes of addiction and develop strategies for handling everyday life without the need for cocaine. Counseling work also involves group counseling meetings where addicts receive peer support and encouragement and learn from one another’s experiences.
Behavioral Treatment Approaches
Behavioral treatments for cocaine addiction make use of two types of approaches:
- Motivational incentives, also known as contingency management
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
Motivational incentives used in treatment for cocaine addiction use an exchange system where participants receive vouchers or prizes for drug-free urine screenings. Prize awards work to encourage healthy living activities such as gym memberships, dinner coupons, and movie tickets.
CBT involves helping recovering addicts replace compulsive drug-seeking behaviors with healthy ways of dealing with everyday life issues. CBT enables participants to get to the heart of their addiction problems and develop healthier self-images.
Community-Based Treatment Approaches
Treatment for cocaine addiction encourages participants to use community-based treatment resources throughout the recovery process. Community-based approaches include therapeutic community residential programs and 12-step support group programs like Narcotics Anonymous.
Therapeutic community residential programs provide housing, drug treatment, and vocational assistance to recovering addicts for the duration of the program. Programs typically run anywhere from 6 to 12 months. Twelve-step support programs offer a long-term recovery approach for those who have completed drug treatment. Drug rehab programs also offer 12-step meetings throughout treatment. Support group meetings provide recovering addicts with ongoing support and guidance for maintaining drug-free lifestyles.
The Importance of Drug Treatment After Cocaine Toxicity
Cocaine toxicity and cocaine addiction are not the same. A toxic reaction can occur any time you use cocaine, regardless of whether it’s the first time or the 100th time. It’s important to remember that experiencing a toxic reaction just one time means you are more likely to experience another. This is why it’s necessary to seek long-term drug treatment after a toxic reaction.
Cocaine Addiction Rehab Options
As each person’s situation presents its own set of circumstances and challenges, cocaine rehab offers both residential and outpatient treatment options to accommodate most anyone’s treatment needs. Those battling severe addictions would benefit most from the intensive treatment environment provided by residential programs. Inpatient treatment programs offer around-the-clock care where recovering addicts can devote all their attention to getting well.
Someone whose addiction is still in its early stages may benefit the most from the less restrictive outpatient treatment approach. Participants can attend scheduled treatment sessions without having to live on the facility’s grounds. Outpatient programs work particularly well for those who must also fulfill work and family responsibilities. However, the outcome of outpatient treatment largely depends upon the person’s ability to maintain abstinence. Those at high risk for relapse or for using during treatment may experience more successful treatment outcomes with inpatient rehab.