The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that in 2017, approximately 2.2 million people said they had used cocaine in the past. The use of this drug has remained somewhat constant since the 2000s, with a slight increase in the last few years. When cocaine is regularly used for a length of time, you can expect to endure cocaine withdrawal symptoms upon stopping. When this occurs, a cocaine addiction treatment center provides the best option for successful withdrawal. At Santé Center for Healing, our addiction treatment team understands how best to approach helping individuals overcome their addiction.

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is extracted from the coca plant, Erythroxylum coca. The plant comes from Central and South America, where the temperatures are warm. When refined, the coca plant’s leaves create a white powdery substance. This is then snorted, injected, or smoked.

Cocaine is a stimulant drug and has been around for thousands of years in one form or another. In the 1900s, the purified version of the drug, cocaine hydrochloride, was added to some drinks and tonics. However, once researchers discovered its addictive properties, they ceased using it in drinks.

Effects of Cocaine

When cocaine enters the body, it pushes past the bloodstream and surges straight to the brain for a powerful kick. Cocaine affects the dopamine part of the brain. Dopamine is the brain’s natural “feel good” chemical. When a person uses cocaine, this chemical is activated and enhanced, thereby triggering a strong sense of euphoria. Also, people will remember the euphoria, which makes them want to do the drug again.

Research also suggests that cocaine elevates people’s stress levels, making sense since it’s a stimulant. Cocaine stimulates your body’s nervous system making the heart race and increasing the body temperature.

Some people experience other effects when using cocaine, such as:

Nausea
Sweating
Anger
Irritability
Paranoia
Self-confidence

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms

When people use cocaine for an extended time, they can expect to experience symptoms of cocaine withdrawal. Some of the withdrawal effects include:

Crashing—this occurs after the effects of euphoria wear off. Because cocaine is so intense and short-lasting, the crashing is intense, as well.
Craving for more cocaine due to the short duration of the drug’s high
Tiredness from the body no longer using its stimulant dose
Overall anxiety
Increase in agitation
Suspicion or paranoia

The duration of withdrawal symptoms varies from person to person. This is due to several factors such as age, frequency of use, drug potency, family history, and genetics. While withdrawal symptoms will be uncomfortable for some people, they won’t be painful or lead to complications. For others, the strain of withdrawal may trigger or exacerbate other medical conditions. This is why medically-supervised detox programs are so important.

Discover How Sante Center for Healing Can Help

During cocaine withdrawal, addiction treatment programs provide a nurturing environment in which to safely detox. Trained clinicians provide oversight for a withdrawal management program as well as therapy sessions. By doing so, patients are better positioned to heal and overcome their withdrawal symptoms. Once through detox, individuals will have a firm foundation on which to build while in their treatment program. With the withdrawal symptoms dealt with, patients can focus on the psychological and emotional aspects of the disease of addiction.

At Santé Center for Healing, we are ready to guide you through to starting a whole new life. We provide therapy modalities that help treat drug addiction, such as:

Don’t let cocaine overrule the plans you have for life. You don’t need to go through the cocaine withdrawal symptoms alone. Reach out to us, and we will help you overcome your addiction. Contact Santé Center for Healing at 866.238.3154, and start your new life today.