Cocaine is an addictive stimulant drug that can change lives and be life-threatening. Using cocaine may change how people’s brains work and increase their risk for many serious medical issues. Finding the next high may seem like the most important thing in their lives.
WHAT WE TREAT
However, medical detox is often recommended due to the high likelihood of relapse. If you or a loved one has abused crack and has decided to quit, speak to your doctor or a medical professional about your detoxification treatment options. Many treatment programs include tapering and medical detox, even at an outpatient level.
Getting support for cocaine detox
Medical detox provides patients peace of mind through medical advice and intervention so they can safely get through the crack withdrawal process and avoid relapse. Most people will begin to experience crack withdrawal symptoms 30 minutes to 72 hours after the last use. The start of the crack cocaine withdrawal timeline varies from user to user, depending on genetics, metabolism, helping vs enabling and overall health. Medical professionals advise against the cold turkey detox method, particularly at home. When someone abruptly stops using crack, withdrawal can begin rapidly and be more severe.
- By having medications that lessen the cravings’ intensity, the patient is more likely to continue to avoid relapsing and complete the detox process.
- Crack is a crystallized, free base form of cocaine that is incredibly potent and addictive.
- The battle against crack addiction often requires ongoing, repeated treatment.
What Are the Challenges When Quitting Crack?
Tolerance often develops alongside dependence, in which the person’s brain comes to rely on crack to function normally. Leah has worked in several treatment settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and in-home therapy, both as a therapist and a clinical supervisor. She currently serves as a Director of adult outpatient services in a community health center. If you or a loved one are struggling with crack addiction and want to stop, this article will help you understand more about how to quit safely and what to expect during withdrawal. Getting adequate nutrition after detoxing from substances is vitally important. The right diet can help repair any damage incurred following sustained drug use and lead to improved immunity, cognitive function, and energy.
Detox is the first step of treatment and can begin when a client arrives at The Recovery Village. During detox, an expert team of nurses provides constant care, and the client receives regular visits from their doctor to ensure withdrawal symptoms are not dangerous to their health. The body uses any means necessary — including diarrhea, vomiting and excessive sweating — to expel substances from the body. Crack addiction is a serious illness, and attempting to tackle it without medical assistance can be dangerous.
Generally, crack withdrawal is less severe than opioid or alcohol withdrawal. While undergoing this treatment process, the patient can avoid situational crack cravings and those cravings for other substances. The medications a doctor prescribes to the person recovering from a crack addiction will depend entirely on the person’s health. Common symptoms of crack withdrawal affect both the mind and body, depending on the individual. Detox at a specialized medical facility allows patients to benefit from the 24/7 supervision that is available. This type of personal attention can help mitigate withdrawal symptoms and create the most comfortable detox experience possible.
Other factors include personal medical history, body weight and height, age and family drug history. Potential short-term side effects include overdose, addiction (cocaine use disorder) and withdrawal. Long-term side effects may include serious and potentially life-threatening medical issues like heart failure, stroke art therapy ideas for addiction or infections. Counseling can also be an option depending on symptoms and individual needs. Often, cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for addictive behaviors and cravings.
Researchers are evaluating drug treatments that help people stop using cocaine. Someone addicted to crack cocaine has developed a physical and psychological dependence on it, and will symptoms of roofied experience withdrawal symptoms when quitting. During rehab, centers and clinics will provide a range of treatments such as medications, counseling, and behavioral therapies.
