Understanding Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Cocaine addiction treatment is necessary for a successful recovery.
Successful cocaine addiction treatment can often occur in an outpatient setting because the drug is not as physically addictive as some other simulants or substances tend to be. Hospitalization may be necessary in order to treat withdrawal symptoms and to prevent the continued use of cocaine during the early stages of the addiction treatment as well as to help balance the patient out but in time, outpatient treatment is often the most successful choice.
Before choosing a cocaine addiction treatment program that is best for you or for a loved one, many important issues must first be addressed such as whether or not there are other medical conditions to treat or other co-occurring disorders, the support that a patient will have at home, the risk of the patient being a danger to him or herself or to others and budget.
Often times, pharmacotherapy treatments that utilize antidepressants or anticonvulsants are necessary for the treatment of cocaine-induced problems as well as co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Both of these complications can make the treatment of cocaine addiction a more difficult process, especially if they are left untreated or unnoticed. There is a high risk of psychiatric problems being associated with cocaine addiction so it’s important to find a cocaine addiction treatment program that will focus on treating both the addiction AND any psychiatric conditions that are directly or indirectly related to the cocaine abuse.
Cocaine addiction treatment programs should treat psychiatric symptoms of cocaine addiction with aggression and with care. The aggressiveness of the treatment can reduce the risk of the symptoms worsening or becoming more frequent. In cases in which hallucinations or paranoia do not subside when cocaine is no longer used and treatment has commenced there are medications such as dopamine blockers like haloperidol that can be prescribed in a hospital setting to stop the effects.
The Role of Counseling in Cocaine Addiction Treatment
Counseling plays a key role in the treatment of cocaine addiction. It is during the intensive counseling and therapy sessions that the addict will learn how to treat cocaine addicts and relive the negative experiences associated with cocaine use and slip away from the thinking that cocaine use was ALL positive. Unfortunately, cocaine has reinforcing properties that make a positive impact on the memory. The user often does not remember any of the negative impacts of the drug use and because he or she is left with only positive notes there may be little desire to quit.
Behavioral counseling is one way of helping an addict to recognize the negative aspects of the addict, learn how to spot behavioral cues and steer clear of future cocaine abuse. It’s important for therapists and counselors to teach the addict how to spot the cues that will lead to intense cravings for the drug and then avoid such cues.
Most counselors will also provide the recovering addict with educational activities and the ability to learn about the addiction, recovery and other aspects of cocaine use. It may take many years of abstinence from cocaine abuse before those feelings of euphoria are no longer connected with the cocaine use but it can be done. Through counseling, behavioral therapy and abstinence, even the worst cocaine addiction problems can be treated successfully. We can help you find help.
Resources:
