Many struggling with addiction are fearful about the detox process and withdrawals.
Cocaine addiction can take hold from your first experience with the drug. Unlike other drugs that are physically addictive, such as alcohol and heroin, cocaine is psychologically addictive. It’s second only to methamphetamine in regards to the strength of dependency. With the highs lasting just 15-30 minutes, you’re more likely to binge with it. The more and faster you use it, the stronger that dependency becomes.
When those feelings of euphoria fade, you might find yourself irritated, uncomfortable, or depressed. You may end up using more of the drug to avoid these unpleasant feelings because you think this is how life without cocaine must feel all the time. Thankfully, that’s not the case. You’re just experiencing the early stages of detoxification—that is your body’s way of adjusting to the absence of cocaine in your system. Given enough time and proper support, these feelings can subside, and you can have a healthier, happier life.
When your body begins adjusting to a lack of cocaine, you may experience several side effects. Depending on various factors, including the length and severity of your addiction, mood disorders, and personal background, you may have a completely different experience from someone else in recovery.
Because cocaine addiction is a mental issue instead of a physical one, you won’t have some of the more physical reactions common to alcohol or heroin detox like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. However, it can take longer to shake these mentally motivated symptoms:
These symptoms are not life-threatening, but if you remain unassisted during this trying time, your chances for relapse or overdose are dramatically higher than those of someone in a treatment program.
It’s important to seek guidance from a medical doctor to determine the severity of your addiction. While no two addictions are the same, a general timeline for a less severe cocaine detox is 1-3 weeks.
Your first few hours may have you feeling irritable or anxious with an increased appetite. However, your desire for more cocaine might actually decrease at this point. In the coming days and weeks, intense cravings for the drug may arise. You may find yourself struggling to sleep despite feeling tired. Concentration may prove difficult during this time. 2-3 weeks from your last usage may find these feelings subsiding as you return to a healthier frame of mind. The occasional craving can still arise as well as some anxiety.
In less severe cocaine addiction cases, sub-acute detox at a rehab center like Cycles of Change could be exactly what you need. At our facility in Palmdale, California, we are licensed by the state to provide sub-acute detoxification—meaning treatment that does not require hospitalization or 24-hour medical care.
Our staff of licensed clinical psychologists, family therapists, medical personnel, and other industry professionals are fully invested in making your recovery a success. We will develop a personalized cocaine addiction treatment plan to provide you with the tools for continued success. Once you’ve completed rehab, we will continue to assist you on your journey by providing support groups, regular fellowship meetings, and additional wellness resources to help you maintain your sober lifestyle. Take that vital first step towards recovery from cocaine addiction, and contact us now.
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