How to Quit Cocaine Safely

How to Quit Cocaine Safely

• Mandy Sandhu
• 25 Jul 2024

If you’ve decided to stop letting addiction dictate your life, or you’re a family member or friend of a drug user, it’s important to understand how to quit cocaine safely. Cocaine alters the mind and body, causing users to become dependent on the substance. 

There are safe and unsafe ways to quit cocaine. There are ideal paths to follow to ensure the safest cocaine detox with the most chance of recovery. We’ll explore these options in this blog.

Effects of Cocaine on the Body 

Cocaine gives users a surge of dopamine upon use. The amount is more than the body creates itself, so the mind and body become addicted to that feeling. The body will stop making its dopamine, as there’s an outside source providing it. 

The person using cocaine no longer can produce the correct levels of chemicals in their body. They’ll start to feel the effects of cocaine withdrawal as soon as they stop ingesting it.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms 

Quitting cocaine suddenly results in withdrawal symptoms that, if handled improperly, can endanger the patient or cause relapse.

• Irritability and Restlessness: Cocaine withdrawal can lead to irritability and restlessness. The user is no longer receiving the stimulant they desire, and they aren’t currently able to find that same feeling in healthy ways. The brain will experience a crash, which leads to agitation and irritability.
• Increased Appetite: As the brain craves a stimulant, the user’s appetite can change. They might start eating more as they try to compensate for the lost sensation. This appetite likely won’t be sated with healthy food, and it can lead to weight gain.
• Depression: With the loss of euphoria, cocaine addicts will start to feel depressed. They’ll feel sadness, hopelessness, and despair since they can’t get a grasp on the same feelings cocaine gave them.
• Paranoia: Cocaine withdrawal can also lead to paranoia, hallucinations, and suicidal tendencies. The altered brain chemistry can cause anxiety and suspicion. Users going through withdrawal can start to see and hear things that aren’t there. The overwhelm of all these symptoms can lead to suicidal behaviours.

Other withdrawal symptoms include excessive sleep or insomnia, dysphoria, sluggish mental and physical activities, loss of motivation, and muscle aches. It’s because of these withdrawal symptoms that cocaine withdrawal treatment should be sought out at Freedom from Addiction.

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Cocaine Detox Timeline 

The effects of cocaine withdrawal hit quickly. In the first few hours, users will start to feel anxious and irritable, and they’ll have an increased appetite. Within the first twenty-four hours, these symptoms will become more severe, and they might also experience pain, fatigue, and lack of motivation.

During the first week, cocaine cravings rise, and mood changes such as depression and dysphoria appear. The user will likely feel exhausted, yet struggle to fall asleep, and when they do, they will have poor quality sleep.

Between two and four weeks, they’ll continue to experience depressed moods and intense cravings. Many patients in this stage have difficulty concentrating and managing their emotions. 

After a few weeks, individuals usually start to feel better. Withdrawal symptoms are fading, but cravings might still arise. Anxiety and unease are also common.

The Risks of Quitting Cocaine at Home 

Quitting cocaine is important to a person’s health. However, knowing how to stop using cocaine properly is key. An at-home method can be dangerous. If you try quitting cocaine on your own, there are increased risks. All withdrawal symptoms will begin, but there won’t be the support and medical care of an established rehabilitation centre.

The symptoms of cocaine detox can last several weeks, which can be one of the many obstacles a person faces when trying to get their addiction under control. Several weeks of discomfort, unease, depression, and cravings are incredibly difficult to manage at home. 

If your only option is to detox at home or the patient refuses cocaine withdrawal treatment, here’s how to detox from cocaine in the safest way at home:

1. Ask a doctor if you’re in a position to manage withdrawal symptoms on your own, or if there’s any medical care they can assist you with.
2. Try to manage symptoms with plenty of rest, lots of fluids, physical activity, and healthy foods.
3. Include family and friends in your decision, so they can support throughout the process.

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How to Stop Doing Cocaine Safely

The safest way to detox from cocaine is by admitting yourself or a loved one to Freedom From Addiction. In our establishment, we have a professional medical team and homey amenities to provide the most comfort possible during cocaine detoxing.

Make the withdrawal and treatment process more comfortable at Freedom from Addiction where we offer a comfortable place to stay where everyone who wants to recover is welcome. Each of our clients has the chance to achieve sobriety through a holistic approach to healing. We have a team full of compassionate professionals to meet you at each step of your journey.

The key to recovery is a strong support system. You’re not alone and you’re not judged. We even offer a Family Program to connect everyone affected by addiction and try to reestablish relationships and education about the healing process.

Our Cocaine Addiction Treatment 

At Freedom from Addiction, our approach to recovery is holistic, meaning we consider the brain and body simultaneously. The risk of relapse is high with addiction, so once you enter the premises, we remove all triggers and sources of cravings.

One of the reasons relapse is so common is that addicts might try it on their own without access to the right resources. This can be an uncomfortable and unsafe experience. This is one of the reasons at-home detoxing isn’t encouraged. Withdrawal symptoms without support can be so difficult to navigate, that it’s simply easier to relapse.

We make space for our clients to move away from the substances, habits, and environments instigating their addiction. We understand addiction is linked to mental health disorders, so we approach recovery with trauma-informed care. By understanding the “why” behind addiction, we can address the emotional, physical, psychological, and social factors that impact addiction.

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Detox Safely from Cocaine at Freedom from Addiction 

Our team can help you manage withdrawal symptoms and encourage you to pursue your recovery. We will help ease the withdrawal process, and provide lifelong resources that will help you understand the addiction and refrain from relapsing.

We will pair relevant mental health disorders with addiction to provide concurrent treatment. So while you work on becoming sober, you can also participate in programs and therapy sessions that seek to find the underlying causes of addiction. Instead of simply getting sober, you’ll also learn the tools to avoid addiction in the future, become independent and self-sufficient, and manage triggers.

We’re ready for you today. The journey to recovery and health is crucial. Start non-judgmental treatments that will reinstate relationships, health, and happiness. Get help now.