Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Cocaine Addiction Treatment

Cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit drug in the world and has an incredibly high potential of a damaging addiction. The combination of serious physical side effects with powerful emotional and psychological impacts can make breaking a cocaine addiction extremely difficult.

Freedom From Addiction is one of the premier cocaine addiction treatment centers in Toronto. Through our comprehensive personalized treatment programs, we can help anyone who is struggling with cocaine addiction to take back their lives and address the issues at the root of their problem.

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine, or coke, is a highly addictive stimulant that is mainly used recreationally. It typically comes in powdered form, ranging in colour from bright white to beige. It is classified as a Schedule I drug in Canada, meaning it is illegal to use or possess in any quantity.

The main effects associated with cocaine use are increased alertness, feelings of euphoria and confidence, heightened energy and increased feelings of sexuality. Physical effects include dilated pupils, increased heart rate, increased body temperature, fidgeting, dry mouth, and talkativeness. Effects usually last anywhere from 15 minutes to one hour and it's often taken by insufflation (“snorting”), smoking, or injection.

Due to the short half-life of the drug, and it’s potent desirable effects, the addiction potential of cocaine is extremely high. Users will need to take higher doses of the drug more frequently to feel the same effects, quickly leading to physical dependence. In addition, cocaine impacts the balance of several important neurotransmitters in the brain, which can lead to serious emotional and psychological issues with chronic abuse. The combination of these two effects makes cocaine addiction treatment a difficult task, as users are dependent not only physically, but emotionally to the drug as well.

Differences between Crack and Cocaine

Many people have also heard of crack, or crack cocaine, when discussing illicit drugs and drug addiction.

Crack is a free base form of cocaine that has been treated with bicarbonate soda and water to form solid white rocks. This process allows crack to be smoked and is said to be even more addictive than regular cocaine. The effects of crack are similar to cocaine, including euphoria, increased energy and feelings of competence. As crack is smoked, the effects are usually felt faster, but they tend to last for a shorter amount of time, typically around 20 minutes total. This means that users will need to use considerably higher amounts of crack compared to cocaine to achieve the same high for the same amount of time.

As crack is usually smoked, it comes with a range of other adverse physical effects that can take a huge toll on the user’s body. A symptom known as “crack lung” occurs after chronic abuse, resulting in severe breathing issues, shortness of breath and lightheadedness.

Crack gets its name from the crackling noise it makes when it is heated before smoking. Crack cocaine addiction treatment can be even more challenging than normal cocaine addiction treatment, as crack is much more addictive and the high it provides is even more intense.

Signs of Cocaine Addiction

The signs of cocaine addiction can be very similar to other types of stimulant abuse. Here are a few important indicators that can help you determine whether someone you know might be addicted to cocaine or any other destructive substance:

• Financial issues stemming from excessive drug use
• Increased anxiety, restlessness, depression, and other mental disorders or behavioural problems
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Insomnia and sleeping problems
• Increased and unwarranted physical or verbal aggression
• A compulsive need to acquire more cocaine and continue using even though they’re aware of the negative physical, social and emotional consequences
• Constantly dilated pupils
• They suffer from severe dry mouth or have problems producing sufficient amounts of saliva
• Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, chills, tremors and vomiting

If you notice any of these signs in yourself or a loved one, then either you or your loved one are showcasing significant signs of cocaine addiction and you should seek professional help as soon as possible.

Cocaine Addiction Treatment At Freedom From Addiction

At Freedom From Addiction, we believe in taking on a holistic, cognitive and behaviour therapy-based approach to cocaine addiction treatment.

Cocaine addiction treatment is a serious undertaking that requires discipline and continuous support. The risk of relapsing—in many cases, multiple times—is extremely high. For that reason, addicts should be removed from any situations in which they’re more likely to use. When left to their own devices, most addicts won’t be able to handle the intense withdrawal symptoms that occur during detoxification or when trying to wean oneself off of cocaine. As a result, they’ll most likely surrender to the easiest solution - relapse.

Enrolling in a comprehensive and effective treatment program is a long-term solution that can help you gain the skills you need to curb your addiction once and for all. We’re not claiming that it’s going to be a walk in the park, because it won’t be. A lot of hard work, time and effort is required in order to make treatment effective.

While our top priority is getting our clients away from the substances that are slowly ruining their lives, we’re also committed to uncovering the underlying issues that led them down the wrong path. There is a great deal of emotional, physical, psychological and even social factors that can influence a person to try drugs for the first time. In most cases, it’s not necessarily the substances themselves that a person develops a taste or craving for; rather it’s the escape from reality associated with those substances that they desire the most.

Freedom From Addiction is a renowned cocaine addiction treatment center located in Toronto, Ontario. We’re one of the few privately owned rehabilitation centers in all of Canada that is fully licensed and recognized by Accreditation Canada. Our all-encompassing inpatient drug and alcohol treatment programs are fully customized to meet the individual needs of our clients, help relieve them of their addictions, confront their emotional triggers, help them re-integrate into society, and learn to live productive lives without being under the influence of substances.

Contact us today to discuss yours or your loved one’s potential cocaine addiction and how we can help.