• Champagne of drugs
• Caviar of drugs
• Status stimulant
• Cadillac of drugs

Cocaine is often associated with movie stars and famous musicians, and this association with glamour, influence and popularity draws in many young users. College is a time of new beginnings, as young adults try and discover who they are apart from their previous identities within their families and hometowns. Although this is a time of new opportunities and experiences, college is also a time of experimentation and may include drug abuse.

What Causes Cocaine Abuse among College Students?

Students face more pressure than ever before due to increases in academic demands between high school and college. Students may desire a release or a way to relieve stress, and they may find temporary relief through cocaine abuse. Another factor in college cocaine use is peer pressure. When a student wants to be involved with a certain group of peers, he or she may go to great lengths including cocaine abuse to find acceptance.

What Are the Effects of Cocaine?

When smoked or injected the effects of cocaine are almost instantaneous. Cocaine interferes with chemical messages in the brain and causes a chemical build-up that results in a high. Cocaine users may feel the following while under the influence:

• Powerful
• Important
• Energetic
• Alert
• Elevated

Long-term effects of cocaine are far more serious than these temporary feelings. Cocaine can result in the following:

• Paranoia
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Depression
• Panic attacks
• Overdose

Cocaine Addiction Treatment

College students who are abusing cocaine can reach out for help at anytime. There is a network of addiction professionals and those in recovery who are eager and willing to help others overcome cocaine addiction. College students can end cocaine use with the aid of a drug rehab program. These programs can often be scheduled during summer or winter breaks, but taking a semester off to recover is not an unreasonable choice, especially when a life may depend on it. Cocaine addiction treatment involves medical treatment, counseling and various therapies. While attending treatment patients develop supportive relationships which help them maintain long-term addiction recovery.

Need Help Finding Treatment for Cocaine Abuse?

If you or someone you love is abusing cocaine, we can help. Call our toll-free helpline for instant support. Our trained counselors are standing by and waiting to hear from you. We can answer your questions about addiction and treatment, and we can verify insurance benefits for your rehab program of choice. We are available to talk 24 hours a day, so please call us anytime.

Cocaine is an illegal narcotic that is dangerous. The most alarming concern about cocaine use is that no one can tell what amount and what frequency of use could cause death.

Who Abuses Cocaine

Cocaine abuse impacts people of all ages. The following statistics reveal information about younger cocaine users:

• In 2008, the National Institute on Drug Abuses reported that 5.3 million Americans age 12 and older had abused cocaine. Of that group over 9% were teenagers as young as 8th grade.
• The rate of cocaine use by college students has increased from 2% to almost 5% over a 5 year period.
• 1 out of 4 Americans between the age of 26 and 34 have used cocaine at least once, which represents the highest percentage of cocaine use than any other age group.

3 Common Fears about Cocaine Recovery

Some factors regarding cocaine use and fear of recovery include the following:

• Fear of losing confidence after cocaine recovery. A surprising number of cocaine users started using the drug to build self-confidence. Shy, insecure people who use cocaine experienced the stimulating properties of the drug and felt more gregarious and outgoing. Thus, a cycle of addictive behavior began; starting with feelings of insecurity, taking cocaine and feeling confident, coming down from the cocaine high and feeling insecure again. Some people express the fact that they “like themselves better” when using cocaine.
• Fear of weight gain during or after cocaine recovery. Many cocaine users have used the drug to suppress their appetite and lose weight. Their new body image has had an impact on their self-esteem and they fear that without cocaine, they will lose these positive feelings about themselves.
• Fear of the unknown involved in cocaine recovery. Cocaine addicts may admit that they have a problem with cocaine, but they are unsure as to what steps to take to correct it. While abusing their mind, body, and spirit with cocaine is damaging, they are uncertain about how to seek help, what type of help they need, and whether they will be successful in recovery.

Helping Cocaine Addicts Address Their Fears

It is important for you to talk to the addict, especially if she is fearful about her cocaine abuse and uncertain about the benefits of rehab. Keeping in mind that the addict is fearful about the recovery process, it makes sense for you to gather as much information as you can about cocaine drug treatment options, different drug therapy strategies, and even a list of the benefits one can expect to receive when going through drug recovery.

By gathering this information, you will be prepared to answer questions that he may have, provide support in overcoming her fears, and give encouragement for her to make the decision to seek treatment. Whether you are a parent, teacher, counselor, minister or a friend, you want to approach the user in a calm and caring manner.

Get Help for Cocaine Abuse

Stop using cocaine before your use of it reaches dangerous levels. To be assured of confidentiality and to receive answers and information, call our toll-free helpline. We are available 24 hours a day. We want to help you find the right treatment program to handle cocaine abuse and we can provide you with options, information about insurance, and resources.

Why Can’t Someone Recover from Cocaine Addiction without Help?

One of the most vulnerable periods of a person’s recovery is shortly after a person has left a rehab treatment program. It is during this time that supportive relationships are most needed. Someone exiting cocaine addiction rehab may feel empowered by the treatment and begin to think that he or she can handle recovery and temptations alone. The person may start to think that he or she can handle cocaine use every now and then or believe he or she could use a different substance such as alcohol. This is when relapse becomes likely. No matter how great one’s rehab experience and training might have been, support is necessary to in remaining clean. A recovering cocaine user needs others to listen, encourage and hold him or her accountable. Isolation and recovery are never a successful combination, as together they will almost certainly lead a person back to drug use.

Who Can Someone in Cocaine Addiction Recovery Rely on for Support?

There are many people ready and waiting to help you recover from cocaine addiction. Be intentional in your relationships and be honest and open about your challenges. Accept help when it is offered. Family and friends want to see you succeed. You also need to be involved in a support group. While in a support group you can gain insight and encouragement from others who truly understand what you are going through. You can also find a sponsor to mentor you through the process of recovery. A mentor is someone who has been where you are and can teach you what to expect and how to overcome cocaine addiction cravings and temptations. Continue relationships with counselors and therapists who can help you overcome unhealthy thought processes and lifestyle patterns that may contribute to relapse. Any and all positive relationships can help you get and stay clean from cocaine. If a problem is discovered early, a total cocaine addiction relapse can often be prevented, before it becomes a larger problem. It is possible to lead a happy and healthy life after cocaine addiction, but it cannot be done alone. Reach out to those around you for support and allow them to help you reach your full potential.

Do You Need Cocaine Recovery Help?

Are you struggling to recover from cocaine addiction? Don’t try to make this difficult journey alone. Our trained counselors are available 24 hours a day to get you the help and support you need. Please call our toll-free helpline and learn about those who want to support your recovery. Get clean and stay clean from cocaine. Please call today.

Why Is Cocaine So Addictive?

After taking cocaine, a person will enter into a brief state of euphoria. Her senses will be elevated, her appetite-suppressed, and she will feel energized. However, the fun caused by cocaine is not worth the cost. Cocaine is so addictive that someone can become dependent after only one use.

Cocaine is a stimulant that floods the brain with a dopamine (the ‘pleasure’ chemical), creating the feeling of ecstasy. The mood is extremely short-lived – lasting a mere 15-20 minutes – before the user crashes back down to normality or even a state of slight depression. This cycle only motivates the individual to crave the drug more intensely in an attempt to regain the same level of pleasure.

What Cocaine Detoxification Does and Doesn’t Do

Make no mistake: detox is a much needed part of the recovery process. There are several different methods to rid the body of drugs. Yet because each person is different, there is no universal method of detox. However, the type that has proved most successful is a combination of tapered drug usage under medical assistance and group therapy/individual counseling sessions.

A big problem with stopping treatment after detox is that detox by itself does not prepare the user for life afterward. It is critical to recover because it smoothes the transition back into normality and works to build a defense against any relapses that may be initiated from withdrawal symptoms.

How to Stay Clean from Cocaine in the Long-Run

The length of time a patient spends in treatment is directly related to improvements in follow-up outcomes. This does not mean that a patient would be forced to stay in a rehab center for a long period of time. Instead, much of the treatment can be continued through outpatient procedures and continual contact with guidance counselors and specialists. Staying clean is all about changing your life and sticking with it, which is exactly why it is important to rely on treatment specialists until the recovery process is 100% complete.

Taking the Next Step toward Life-Long Sobriety

If you or someone you love is addicted to cocaine, we can help you get clean and stay that way. Please call our toll-free helpline today to receive more information about cocaine addiction treatment. We are available 24 hours a day to help you find the recovery solutions you need. Life is too short to waste on addiction. Call us today.

The Relationship between Cocaine Addiction and Mood Disorders

Cocaine addiction and mood disorders are related in the following ways:

• Animal research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows a correlation between high levels of stress-related anxiety and cocaine use. Rats that were placed under stress learned to give themselves cocaine at twice the rate of non-stressed animals. It is likely that the findings translate into the human population and that anxiety plays a role in cocaine abuse for many people.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) reports that cocaine is used by those suffering from bipolar disorder in both phases of their condition. They note that it is used more often during manic phases than during depressive episodes. People suffering from mania often use the drug to further enhance their feelings of wellbeing.
• The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists 10 cocaine-induced psychiatric disorders. These include cocaine-induced mood disorders and cocaine-induced anxiety disorders. Mood changes may be depressive, manic or mixed, and suicidal ideation may be present with both cocaine-induced mood and anxiety disorders.
• SAMHSA reports that the co-occurrence rate of substance abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder is high, and either condition can increase the risk of developing the other. Substance abuse treatment facilities have often failed to adequately screen and treat trauma disorders.
• SAMHSA notes that adults suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity are twice as likely to have a substance abuse disorder as those without the condition.

Integrated Treatment for Mood Disorders and Cocaine Addiction

In the past it was believed that when cocaine addiction and a mood disorder co-occurred, treating one part of the equation would automatically improve the other. Today it is understood that patients with a Dual Diagnosis of an addiction and a mood disorder need integrated treatment in which all identified physical and emotional health needs are treated concurrently, preferably in the same facility and in a coordinated manner. Addressing both sides of the equation greatly improves treatment outcomes. Treatment may include medications and will include counseling and education. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, motivational enhancement and relapse prevention are common components of treatment.

Get Help with Cocaine Addiction and Mood Disorders

If you are in need of integrated treatment for cocaine addiction and a mood disorder, we can help you find the treatment program that is right for you. Our toll-free helpline is staffed around the clock, and we can answer your questions, discuss your options and check your insurance coverage if desired. Call today, and let us help you take a step toward a new life.

How Cocaine Affects Your Brain

Like many drugs, cocaine is an effective pain killer also promotes feelings of ease and euphoria. It also, over time, changes the way the chemicals in the brain function. As a result, the person who is addicted will experience the following side effects:

• Tolerance for the drug
• Impulsive cravings for the drug
• Inability to control these cravings
• Use of the drug despite clearly dangerous and harmful effects

Cocaine Addiction as a Disease

Cocaine addiction is defined as a disease. The following are characteristics of addiction:

• Despite good intentions, the addicted person cannot, through willpower, change her brain chemistry. As a result of long-term drug use, the brain chemistry changes as it adapts to the drugs. This adaptation cannot be changed; it does not simply disappear through an act of the will.
• Addiction as a disease therefore is best overcome through medical supervision. Because there are changes to the body, specifically to the brain, a treatment program that addresses these changes is far superior and more effective than merely quitting “cold turkey.”
• Addiction as a disease implies that research will lead to more effective treatments. Since the addiction is a chemical, physical issue, scientists can study these bodily changes and test various treatments.
• Addiction affects thinking and decision-making. The drugs that lead to serious addiction affect the brain in ways that hamper learning, interfere with memory, and distort rational and common-sense decision-making. Again, this happens in spite of native or natural intelligence and even strong intentions otherwise.

Factors that Affect Cocaine Addiction

The following are factors that affect cocaine addiction and recovery:

• Genetic inheritance: The biology of one’s genetic makeup has some effect on a predisposition to addiction
• Development: If there is exposure or use of the drug at early stages of development, there appears to be a greater likelihood of addiction in adulthood
• Situation: The environment can influence drug use through social pressure

The social and cultural pressures of life today can contribute to the spread of the disease of addiction. The stresses of life and the way that drugs are accepted as “solutions” of first resort to our problems creates an social environment that makes drug use—and misuse—more common.

Help Finding Cocaine Addiction Treatment

To learn more about how addiction can be a disease, and how this disease can be treated, call our toll-free helpline, which is open 24 hours a day. We can help you reclaim your life. It is never too late; call now.

• Cocaine is illegal. Cocaine possession can result in up to 15 years in jail. Also, you could be charged with $500,000 in fines.
• Cocaine can change you emotionally and behaviorally. Cocaine can change the way you think or act, severely hindering your relationships, job performance, and other areas in your life.
• Cocaine can ruin your life. Cocaine addiction can cause you to lose touch with your friends and family. You can lose your job, spend time in jail, or even lose your life.

Cocaine is very difficult to recover from but not impossible. The first step to recovery is detox. Detox is a process by which you purge cocaine from your system. This process requires ample support, and so should not be attempted without the attendance of a medical staff. Suffering from withdrawal symptoms alone can lead to an early relapse for the user.

Rehab centers are designed to make the recovery experience as comfortable and as easy as possible. Rehab also provides an environment that encourages staying clean. Counselors will help identify triggers and motivations for your cocaine addiction. They will also be able to find out if there is an underlying mental health issue that has aided or made the addiction worse. Group therapy will also help you to establish a group of peers that are all going through the same problems. They understand and so you are not alone in your recovery.

Getting Cocaine Addiction Treatment for a Loved One

Deciding to help someone get treatment for cocaine addiction can be difficult. Addiction is a touchy subject, and users will often be upset when approached about cocaine. When seeking treatment for a loved one, consider the following tips:

• Don’t allow your loved one to attempt withdrawal alone. Symptoms of withdrawal can uncomfortable, and they can also be dangerous. Attempting detox by yourself can lead to a relapse.
• You must understand that a cocaine user will do anything to maintain an addiction. Don’t allow him or her to lie to you to get what he or she wants.
• Say “no” whenever necessary. She may ask to borrow money to “pay bills,” or even ask to detox at your house. Let her know that professional treatment is the safest and most effective way to recover.

Families of addicts suffer as well. It is very difficult to watch someone you love fall further into addiction.  It is very hard to watch someone slowly deteriorate, and it’s especially hard when he is important you. However difficult it may be, you must understand that he must get clean on his own. You cannot make someone change his life. Because of the minimal withdrawal symptoms associated with cocaine, users will almost always deny that they are addicted. The best thing to do for a loved one suffering from addiction is to support him. Let him know that he still has people left that love and care about him. Sometimes, just being there is enough.

Cocaine Addiction Help

If you are seeking treatment for cocaine addiction, please call our toll-free helpline now. Our counselors are standing by 24 hours a day to assist you with any treatment needs. They will also check your insurance coverage to see what will be paid for you, as most insurance companies allow for drug rehab expenses. Don’t let addiction destroy you. Call today!

The First Step in Getting Clean from Cocaine Is Getting Help

While it is possible to get clean from cocaine, it is crucial to remember that it will likely be a long and difficult process. The support of others is vital. Throughout the journey you need people to encourage you, provide emotional support and be a grounded source of truth when dealing with the sometimes irrational thought patterns related to cocaine use. Support should include the help of loved ones as well as the help of addiction treatment professionals.

Rehabilitation Treatment Can Help You Stay Clean from Cocaine

While some people are able to get clean from cocaine by going “cold turkey,” it is unlikely that they will be able to remain clean long-term. Cocaine addiction is almost always caused by root issues that unless treated will continue to lead the person back to drug use. These issues often include a co-occurring mental health issue such as depression or bipolar disorder. Cocaine rehab seeks to treat the underlying issues causing addiction while giving a person the tools and skills required to overcome addiction and stay clean for a lifetime. Rehab is helping many people recover fully from cocaine addiction, and it can help you.

Restore Your Quality of Life after Cocaine Addiction

While in the midst of addiction it may seem impossible, but you can have a happy and healthy life again after cocaine addiction. Rehab can help you get clean from cocaine and provide you with tools to heal other aspects of your life that may have been negatively impacted by drug use. Through counseling, family therapy and support groups cocaine rehab can help you restore relationships that may have been damaged. Rehab can help you find employment or get the skills needed to work if your employment suffered from your addiction. Rehab can help you achieve your full potential in life. There is no reason to wait to get your life back. You can get clean from cocaine, so don’t wait any longer to get the help you need.

Do You Need Help Getting Clean from Cocaine?

Are you or a loved one struggling with an addiction to cocaine? We can help you get clean. Call our toll-free helpline today, and get your questions answered and find out what treatment will best fit your personal needs. We are available 24 hours a day, so there is no reason to wait.

Causes of the Cocaine Addiction Cycle

Before cocaine users become addicted, they begin using the drug for a variety of reasons. They may begin using it socially when friends use it, or they may use it to deal with feelings of inadequacy or other negative feelings. Soon the user begins using the drug more often which quickly leads to addiction.

Once users are addicted to cocaine, quitting can become a constant cycle of relapse. When addicted to cocaine, the body is used to the drug’s presence. Unfortunately, when it is absent, your body lets you know through severe withdrawal symptoms. When withdrawal symptoms occur, it is a natural reaction for users to return to the drug to get rid of withdrawal symptoms. This, combined with a compulsive need for cocaine, is what drives cocaine addiction. When an addiction reaches this point, there is no solution but to seek quality addiction treatment.

End the Cycle through Cocaine Addiction Treatment

The best way to address your cocaine addiction is to find a quality treatment that will equip you with everything you need to beat the temptation of relapse. Quality cocaine addiction treatment teaches users about the causes of cocaine addiction, and provides therapy aimed at helping users cope with the stresses of life instead of turning to cocaine to mask the problems.

Each user is unique and there are many types of cocaine addiction treatment available. It is important to find the right type of treatment for you. When looking for cocaine addiction treatment, be sure to find a treatment center that focuses not only on the physical cocaine addiction, but also on the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of cocaine addiction.

Get Cocaine Addiction Help Now

If you’re addicted to cocaine, the best time for you to get treatment is now. The sooner you turn your life around, the more enjoyment you’ll get out of it. Our toll-free helpline is open 24 hours a day, and our cocaine addiction experts can talk to you about quality treatment centers that fit your needs. Your health insurance may cover all or part of the cost of cocaine rehab, so ask our addiction experts about verifying benefits. Call today, and end the cycle of cocaine addiction for good.

Staging a Cocaine Intervention

Staging an intervention for a loved one using cocaine can be a difficult task. It is best to confront the person in a group that is large enough so that you are not alone yet small enough so that the person who is being confronted does not feel overwhelmed. Be sure to remind the individual that you care for him or her and the purpose of the intervention is not to bring condemnation but help.

Finding Treatment for Cocaine Addiction

Before staging an intervention, research treatment options and have a program lined up for your loved one. Cocaine addiction treatment is most successful when provided through a residential rehab center. The patient will live at this facility for a period of time ranging from several weeks to several months. While in treatment, he or she will complete detox, therapy and counseling. Another option for cocaine addiction recovery is outpatient treatment. In outpatient rehab an individual attends counseling and medical check-ups at a rehab center but does not remain there overnight. The best cocaine rehab choice depends on the severity of the drug addiction and the individual’s needs.

Staying Clean from Cocaine

Once a person successfully completes cocaine rehab, you need to ensure that he or she continues in recovery. Remove all drugs and cocaine paraphernalia from the individual’s home environment so that there is no easy path to relapse. Offer your emotional support as well. This may take the form of attending counseling sessions together or just simply being a shoulder to cry on. Always be sure to tell the individual that you care for him or her and are there for love and support.

Want to Help Someone Stay Clean from Cocaine?

If you need any assistance helping someone get clean or stay clean from cocaine, please do not hesitate to call our toll-free helpline. We can provide information about cocaine and recovery and can connect you with intervention, rehab and aftercare resources. Our counselors are standing by 24 hours a day and are ready to offer help when you need it. Find out how you can help your loved one; call now.