Cocaine withdrawal: Symptoms, timeline, and recovery

Now, after almost a year of sober living and a recovery process that “opened a lot of old wounds”, Lee says his life has “completely turned around” through a 12-step programme and cold water therapy. The 30-year-old said she wanted to reshape how people view addiction and confront “the underlying personal issues that drive substance abuse”. The majority of people treated for a powder cocaine addiction remain drug free. Unlike treatment for heroin, there are no medicines that work as substitutes for powder cocaine, crack cocaine and other stimulants.

Detoxification Approaches

The increased impact of dopamine also causes the euphoric and pleasurable sensation of a “high” on cocaine. In a 2010 study, between 60% to 78% of those who attempted to quit using cocaine on their own experienced at cocaine addiction treatment least one relapse back to drug use. Sometimes, inpatient rehab is longer-lasting and takes place in a home-like environment, a rehab setting known as residential rehab.

Cocaine Addiction Recovery Rates

This page is designed as an overview for understanding cocaine misuse, addiction, and how it can be treated effectively. Cocaine addiction treatment includes inpatient treatment and outpatient options, both of which include education, counseling, and therapies to help guide patients toward long-term recovery and sobriety. If you are going through cocaine withdrawal symptoms, or know someone who is, never hesitate to reach out for support.

Factors That Influence The Withdrawal Timeline

As someone’s substance use increases, so does their tolerance and physical dependence on the substance. Signs of this happening often include consuming more of the substance; more enough for you to notice. For example, one glass of wine might turn into one and a half, and then two in a relatively short amount of time. They may seem the same after two glasses as they did after one—that’s because their tolerance increased. Someone who’s started using substances may show signs of inebriation, like stumbling when they walk, slurring their words, or seeming spaced out. Hiding and spending more time alone can be a sign too, as this would keep other loved ones from noticing some of the more obvious signs.

Cocaine Comedown vs. Cocaine Withdrawal

Symptoms after are often more intense for people who’ve used cocaine for an extended period. Counseling can also be an option depending on symptoms and individual needs. Often, cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for addictive behaviors and cravings. Click here to learn more about finding the right therapist for you.

Treatment and Recovery

In leaving addiction behind, most people have to restructure their everyday life, from what they think about and who they spend time with and where, to how they use their time, to developing and pursuing new goals. The shifts in thinking and behavior are critical because they lay the groundwork for changes in brain circuity that gradually help restore self-control and restore the capacity to respond to normal rewards. Many people believe that they are powerless to change their own addictive behavior, and often it is a belief that keeps people addicted.

• Yoga is often cited as helpful in improving symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety experienced by those in cocaine recovery.
• Medications for addiction treatment offer hope and healing for those seeking recovery from opioid addiction.
• In one set of studies looking at some measures of dopamine system function, activity returned to normal levels after 14 months of abstinence.
• It may include rediscovering a work or social role, finding new recreational interests, or developing a new sense of spiritual connection.

Signs of Tolerance and Dependence

• Both groups completed brain scans upon entering the study (i.e. baseline) and at a 6-month follow-up to assess gray matter volume changes over a 6-month period.
• Many individuals use cocaine addiction to mask the symptoms of mental health disorders, which leads to further problems with addiction.

Left untreated, cocaine addiction can be devastating to a person’s health and wellbeing. However, with proper treatment, people can recover from even severe substance use disorders and cocaine addiction. Cocaine addiction changes the brain’s key pleasure centers, so, during periods of abstinence from the drug, the memory of the effect the drug has can lead to intense cravings.