Overcoming Addiction: Life Past Cocaine

Cocaine is a drug that can induce euphoric feelings, and can boost mood and energy. With such pleasant initial effects, the tendency for it to be abused and for someone to develop a dependency on it is remarkable. 

Prolonged use of cocaine can pose a significant threat to the lives of those abusing it. It can alter the user’s psychological status, therefore, impairing his ability to reason and connect with other people, his work or studies, and his usual hobbies and interests. It can also cause a decrease in kidney function due to inflammation of microstructures in the organ. On top of all that, cocaine addiction increases the risk of cardiac arrest, stroke and then death.

On the positive side, there are several cocaine addiction treatments available for persons who want to change their ways. Users can opt for inpatient facilities where they can get therapy and support for the whole duration of their treatment. Another option is outpatient facilities where patients can schedule regular appointments at the clinics or facilities. The approach for cocaine addiction treatment can be behavioral or pharmacological, individually or used in collaboration. 

Behavioral therapies focus on the psychological treatment which deals with the possible underlying reasons and causes associated with the person’s drug dependency. Aside from cognitive behavioral therapy wherein the grounds of drug abuse is addressed, patients who undergo behavioral therapy also experience contingency management. This method rewards the patients for their abstinence and other parameters, such as improvement in social interactions. Research shows that this type of cocaine addiction treatment is useful.

Pharmacological therapies use prescription drugs to treat the dependency. Medications which are utilized in this form of treatment mimics the substance being abused but its efficacy is reduced over time which allows the patient to abstain from drug use and eventually recover from addiction. The goal of this treatment is to reduce and eventually eliminate the need for cocaine and the dependence over time.

In choosing the best cocaine addiction treatment, several considerations must be taken into account. Is it covered by insurance? How long is the duration of the program? Are the treatments personalized and will it suit my needs? What post-treatment care do they offer? These are only a few things that need thinking but the most important part in overcoming addiction is realizing that there is a need for treatment. It all starts there, and a better life past cocaine will follow.