If you or someone you love is addicted to cocaine, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to getting help. With so many treatment options available today, how can you find which are right for you?
It takes a lot of courage to finally ask for help. For months or years, you may have been denying that you have an issue. Perhaps you’ve been making excuses for your loved one but are starting to see that their drug use has turned into an addiction.
Denver Recovery Center has state-of-the-art therapies for cocaine addiction treatment in Colorado. We customize a treatment plan for each and every client; we consider your struggles, interests, treatment goals, and more when designing your recovery program.
Using our innovative combination of evidence-based and holistic therapies, you can finally get the help you need to enjoy lasting sobriety.
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Table of Contents
What is Cocaine?
Cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant, which grows naturally in South America. It is most commonly found on the streets as a bitter-tasting white powder that is usually ingested through snorting. Users usually feel the effects within a few minutes, and they continue to last for about half an hour. This drug can also be made into crack cocaine, which is a more powerful version of the drug that can be smoked; this form provides an intense, short-lasting high.
As a stimulant, cocaine provides users with a sense of euphoria and confidence. Users may become very talkative or find that they are able to concentrate more easily. People who use this drug may also become paranoid or anxious while under its effects.
Cocaine may be referred to by many street names, including blow, snow, coca, coke, candy, bump, or stash. Some of these nicknames may also refer to crack, but that form of the drug is more likely to be called hard candy, rock, or hail.
Cocaine is illegal in the United States, although it is sometimes used by doctors as an anesthetic and vasoconstricting agent. Possessing any amount of this drug is a crime, which can lead to legal trouble in addition to the negative mental and physical health consequences it has.
Is Cocaine Addictive?
Unfortunately, many people don’t realize just how addictive this drug is when they begin using it. Perhaps they think they can try it a few times or just use it when they are partying. Due to the way this stimulant affects the brain, however, using it can quickly turn into a serious addiction.
When a person uses cocaine, it activates the reward center of the brain. This part of the brain is also engaged when people participate in activities like eating or exercising. Normally, this activation serves to encourage people to continue engaging in positive behaviors. When a person is using this substance, the brain believes it is a positive behavior due to the chemicals that are released. However, this can turn into a dangerous cycle where the brain requires the drug to feel pleasure.
This illustrates an important point about addiction: cocaine and other substances work with your brain’s natural chemistry to trick you into using it over and over again. Addiction is not a choice, a lack of willpower, or something you can just talk yourself out of. It involves actual changes in your brain that require a complete rewiring of your mind to break free of.
If you have found yourself trapped in this cycle of addiction, there is hope. The best cocaine rehab centers, like Denver Recovery Center in Colorado, can help you get clean and stay sober.
What Are the Signs of Cocaine Abuse and Addiction?
Recognizing the signs of addiction in yourself or a loved one is the first step to getting help. There are distinct physical and behavioral signs that may appear if someone is abusing or addicted to this powerful drug.
Physical signs of cocaine abuse include:
- Increased heart rate
- Dilated pupils
- Runny nose and nosebleeds
- Decreased sense of smell
- Insomnia or decreased need for sleep
- Sore throat or trouble swallowing
Behavioral signs of cocaine addiction include the following:
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Presence of drug paraphernalia (CD cases, mirrors, razor blades, credit cards, hollow pens, rolled up dollar bills, baggies)
- Sudden change in interests or activities
- Decline in work or school performance
- Lying or secretive behavior
- Referring to the drug frequently or by street names
- Financial issues
If these signs sound familiar, it is time to get help. Addiction doesn’t get better on its own. It takes intensive treatment with experienced professionals to get clean and sober for good.
What Treatments Are Available For Cocaine Addiction?
Many types of evidence-based and holistic cocaine addiction treatments are available today. These include the following:
Holistic therapies are designed to treat the entire person: body, mind, and spirit. Some people mistakenly believe that rehab is mostly about the detox stage, which focuses on the body. However, recovery is about much more than ridding the body of harmful substances. If the body is cleansed of a drug, it may not crave it any longer. However, your brain may still jump to drug use as the answer for stressful situations such as issues at work, problems with money, or fights with your spouse. Treating the thoughts and behaviors that led to addiction in the first place allows the mind to heal and the spirit to be at peace.
For instance, perhaps you tend to use cocaine when you have a stressful deadline coming up at work and need some extra energy. Without therapy that teaches coping skills for such stressful situations, the next big project is likely to trigger a relapse. Treating the triggers that contribute to addiction is crucial for a full recovery. Aligning the mind, body, and spirit is important to ensure that your whole self can be ready for a fulfilling, sober life.
Family therapy can be one of the most essential parts of your recovery. Over the course of your addiction, you may have damaged the most important relationships in your life. Perhaps you lied to or stole from family members. Maybe you abandoned your closest friends. You may have even disappeared completely from their lives. Family therapy offers a safe environment where you, your family members, your closest friends, and your therapist can talk comfortably and honestly about the problems you have all faced due to addiction. Your family may voice their concerns about your drug abuse, how they have been hurt, or anything else they feel is important. You can listen to your family talk and try to understand what they may need from you in the future. You may even be able to make amends with your loved ones. The therapist may teach your family about addiction, the rehab process, and how each person can best support you during your recovery. Having a strong support system is a wonderful tool that can be of great use to you as you progress through treatment.
Group therapy is one type of treatment that many people find to be especially helpful. Unlike other types of therapy that often involve a trained professional, group therapy involves people just like you who are going through very similar situations. Hearing their stories and struggles can be therapeutic as you realize you are not as alone in your addiction as you may have once thought. The people you meet during group therapy can also act as your support system as you continue your recovery.
What Can I Expect During Rehab For Cocaine Addiction?
Entering rehab can be a scary experience. You might not have the slightest idea of what to expect. Maybe you have seen TV shows or movies about rehab but aren’t sure what it will really be like.
Although it may be confusing at first, rehab can be one of the most positive periods of your life. It is a time of self-discovery and healing. You may make lifelong friends, learn new skills, or develop an interest in hobbies that you can enjoy for your whole life.
When you begin rehab, a team of professionals will be there to answer your questions about the length of your stay, the steps involved, your treatment plan, insurance, and more. They can also recommend the best type of program for you to start with.
Possible options include detox, inpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment. If you have used drugs heavily or for a long period of time, medically supervised detox may be the best choice for your first few days in recovery. This is just what it sounds like: a short period of recovery that is monitored by medical professionals who will ensure that you stay safe and healthy. They may also be able to make the process more comfortable as well as provide encouragement during the difficult process.
Inpatient treatment is often the first step of rehab. This is an excellent environment to start building your sober foundations. Because you live at the rehab center full-time, you are completely removed from the situations, people, triggers, and stress in your normal environment. This allows you to make a new start in a supportive environment. You can expect to meet with your therapist and case manager, go to group meetings, and attend therapy sessions. Your time is very structured in inpatient treatment, which can be a helpful and positive way to begin recovery.
Outpatient treatment often has several different levels that include the same activities but for differing periods of time. During this program, you will live at home or in a sober-living facility as you transition back to society. You will continue to see your therapist, participate in treatment activities, and go to group meetings. However, you will also have time to spend with your family, go to work or attend school, and enjoy other activities as you see fit.
Is Help Available Near me in Denver?
If you or someone you love has developed a cocaine addiction, Denver Recovery Center in Colorado has many quality treatments that can help you get your life back. Our facility is beautiful, serene, and exceptionally comfortable. We offer a fully equipped kitchen and a pool table for recreation time. Some of our rooms even have large bathtubs and fireplaces. At Denver Recovery Center, you can feel at home during your recovery.
We develop a custom treatment plan for each and every one of our clients. Each person is unique, and no two addictions are alike, so we utilize a combination of holistic and evidence-based therapies that can help you succeed during and after rehab.
Our clients come from across the United States to experience the incredible care that our compassionate staff has to offer. With our wide range of evidence-based and holistic treatments, we can help you recover from this dangerous addiction.
Don’t Wait Any Longer to Get Help
Whether you’ve been struggling with cocaine addiction for weeks, months, or years, now is the time to get help. You may be scared to ask for help. You may believe you are beyond hope. You may be reluctant to begin the rehabilitation process. You may just not know where to begin.
At Denver Recovery Center, we understand these struggles. Asking for help is often the hardest step of getting clean. However, once that first step is taken, we will be here for you as you go through treatment. We will encourage and support you at each stage.
Entering rehab can be scary and confusing. You probably have a lot of questions about treatment and logistics. Our admissions specialists are available and happy to discuss anything and everything you need to know about cocaine addiction rehab. All you have to do is call.
Don’t wait any longer. Contact us today at (844) 602-3175 and let us help you take your life back.