Cocaine is a drug that is derived from the coca plant. It is available in the form of a white powder. However, you can also find it in the form of crack cocaine, which is a freebase crystalline solid.
The DEA - the Drug Enforcement Administration - classifies cocaine as a schedule II drug under the Controlled Substances Act passed by the federal government. This effectively means that it has few accepted medical uses and benefits in the United States and carries a high risk of substance abuse, dependence, and addiction.
If you abuse this drug, you would typically do so by injecting it directly into the bloodstream. You might also snort or smoke it. This is due to the pleasurable effects that the drug will cause in your brain - including but not limited to a pronounced sense of pleasurable euphoria.
It can interact with the reward system of your brain, thereby leading to a reinforcement of the use of this drug. Abusing cocaine, on the other hand, is likely to lead to tolerance, dependence, and addiction.
If you are dependent on and addicted to cocaine and suddenly stop using it or significantly reduce the dose of the drug that you normally take, you could experience some withdrawal symptoms.
Although this withdrawal syndrome will present different for different people, there is a high probability that you will experience more emotional and psychological issues than physical effects. These symptoms of withdrawal include but are not limited to:
The cocaine detoxification process will typically take different periods for different people. However, it is highly likely that the symptoms of withdrawal will emerge 24 hours after your last use of the drug and continue for about 3 to 5 days. However, some of these symptoms might also persist for several weeks.
The goal of cocaine detoxification would be to monitor your withdrawal symptoms as well as ensure that you are in a safe environment within which to go through withdrawal. It is recommended that you undertake this process in a professional addiction treatment program or facility.
There are two types of detox programs for cocaine addiction. They include inpatient and outpatient detoxification programs and facilities, and they offer differing levels of treatment and medical help.
In case your cocaine abuse and addiction was severe, the most effective treatment method would be on an inpatient basis. This will ensure that you receive round the clock medical care and supervision especially during the detox stage of your recovery.
Even so, there are some outpatient cocaine detoxification programs that can also help manage your withdrawal symptoms as well as ensure that you overcome your abuse of this drug without requiring you to live at the treatment facility.
Learning what treatment is best for you or your loved one is easy. Speak to one of our trained counselors and let them guide you to the best treatment options available for your specific needs.
