Cocaine Withdrawal
Some people don’t realize how addictive cocaine is because when a user hits withdrawal, it’s a little different than with other drugs. Withdrawal from opiates such as heroin and oxycodone are unmistakable where addict goes through severe muscle aches, spasm, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting.
Cocaine does have withdrawal symptoms. Someone coming down from long-term cocaine use or a binge will crash, experiencing strong cravings, fatigue, anxiety, agitation and an inability to feel pleasure. The former cocaine user will often be depressed and restless. This withdrawal is the first phase of recovering from cocaine addiction.
When there are no severe physical withdrawal symptoms someone may question whether cocaine is addictive. The person may wonder why he can’t quit using the drug if it seems to be less physically addictive than opiates or alcohol. But an inability to quit despite damage to one’s relationships, work, school, health, legal status or life in general is a sign of addiction.
Withdrawal from cocaine just has a different look and feel to it.
What if Withdrawal Isn’t Enough?
Cocaine withdrawal contains the same component that drives any addict back to drug use: cravings. A person needs a full rehab program that provides a way to reduce or eliminate the severe cravings they are experiencing.
The Narconon drug and alcohol recovery program addresses the important points of the damage that has been created by cocaine use and helps a person regain strength, health and a new energy for living drug-free.
The nutritional support they receive as soon as they walk in the door helps to repair the physical damage from their unhealthy lifestyle and drug use. Depression often begins to lift in the first few days from nutritional help and and gentle orientation exercises with Narconon staff. A person who can see a positive change in his or herself can begin to envision success in becoming drug-free.
Once through the withdrawal phase of their recovery from cocaine abuse, the person can find further improvement from completing the Narconon New Life Detoxification. This is nothing like detoxification programs you will find elsewhere. This one is an exact regimen of sauna time, moderate exercise and precisely controlled nutrition. These factors work together to help release cocaine (and any other) toxins from the body.
As drugs are fat soluble, this is where they will lodge during and after drug use, sometimes remaining there for years. Certain conditions can cause some of these residues to be released and this can be involved in the triggering of cravings. With the residues effectively eliminated, former cocaine addicts report feeling better, thinking more clearly and so have a much greater shot at lasting sobriety.
Recovery Can be Complicated by Delayed Withdrawal Symptoms
Unlike other drugs, cocaine withdrawal symptoms can last for months. Recovery can be complicated by these lingering symptoms that include depression, severe cravings and even suicidal thoughts and attempts.
A recovering cocaine addict may try to treat these symptoms with alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics or benzodiazepines. But this coping mechanism simply substitutes one addictive substance for another. A cocaine addict may also try to find the same euphoria of earlier drug use to eliminate the cravings and depression.
When all the different facets of cocaine addiction are thoroughly addressed as is done in the Narconon program, then the recovering addict does not have to hit these later phases of cocaine withdrawal. By the time a person trying to “go it alone” hits the lingering depression and possible suicidal thoughts of this later phase, a recovering addict in the Narconon drug rehabilitation program will be through the Narconon New Life Detoxification and onto his or her life skills training, preparing for a life of sobriety after addiction.
Some Untreated Cocaine Addicts Blow Entire Fortunes
A characteristic of cocaine addiction is that a person continues to chase the euphoria of cocaine use by consuming more and more as the body develops a tolerance. Entire fortunes can go and have gone down the drain as the drug simulates a high confidence that leads users to spend thousands on cars, gifts, prostitutes or other extravagances. From various news reports, it appears that Charlie Sheen may have spent as much as a half million dollars on call girls and cocaine over a short period. In 2009 in London, international banker Christen Schnor committed suicide after several months of cocaine use and prostitutes, running through many thousands of Euros in the process.
These disastrous effects do not have to happen if the person who wishes to recover from cocaine addiction finds the Narconon drug rehabilitation program. Instead of life destruction and the wastage of fortunes, a person can find lifelong sobriety and a productive enjoyable life.
Contact us if you or someone you know needs help with cocaine withdrawal.