Cocaine is a highly addictive drug that triggers intense cravings to use again once you’ve experienced the first rush. Some studies indicate it is nearly as addictive as heroin. How long does cocaine rehabilitation last? Up to 90 days, depending on the length of time you’ve been using and the severity of your addiction.
Because cocaine is often snorted or applied to the gums, it enters the bloodstream with great speed. The rush of a dose of cocaine hits the brain almost immediately and triggers a strong desire for more. There has also been a glamour associated with cocaine that increases the risk of addiction; for a long time, it was the drug of the wealthy and famous.
Cocaine Rehab Process
The cocaine rehab process starts with detox. Withdrawal pain and discomfort from cocaine can be quite intense; while it will take up to 72 hours for the drug to be out of your system, your body can take up to 3 weeks to adjust to coming off of cocaine. During this time you may be
- nervous or agitated
- sleepy and depressed
- paranoid
- generally unhappy and unpleasant
For most shedding cocaine, the first week of detox may leave you feeling much healthier, if a lot hungrier than you were while you were using. Be aware that the most severe symptoms of withdrawal can hit very suddenly. You may have a few days of feeling completely back to normal, only to fall back again into a sense of misery and hopelessness. If you detox for the full three weeks, you will be able to move into rehab. During cocaine rehab, you will receive both physical support for the healing process and mental support to deal with the depression that can follow cocaine detox.
Your brain has been bathed in a stimulant. Withdrawing that stimulant can leave your brain floundering, trying to bring your pleasure receptors back on-line. This will also be the time for you to address your attitudes and feelings about addiction in general. No matter your experience with addiction, accepting that you yourself are an addict can be challenging. Again, cocaine has long been the drug of choice for the glamorous. You’re not a heroin addict shooting up in an alley or a drunk clutching a paper bottle under a bridge; you’re using a drug made popular by powerful people. Your success in rehab will be directly tied to your understanding of yourself as a person with an addiction.
Counseling and group therapies can help you understand the illness better over time. Your rehab process may also include treatment for secondary usage. If you’ve been agitated by cocaine use, you may have started using alcohol as a way to calm your brain so you can rest. Secondary usage and secondary addictions are not uncommon among those who use illegal drugs and your detox and rehab can help you shed those toxins as well. Over time, cocaine use can do a lot of damage to your respiratory tract.
Your sinuses, mucosal membranes, throat and lungs may all have been damaged by cocaine use. If you have been using cocaine orally, your gut may be damaged by severe constipation that can come from ingesting it. Those who apply cocaine to their gum tissue may need dental care to repair damaged tissue. All of these can be discussed during treatment and outside care can be arranged as appropriate.
Cocaine can be an appetite suppressant. As the drug leaves your system and you start to eat again, you may be drawn to foods that produce a rush, such as caffeinated beverages and sugary treats. However, if cocaine has made your gut sluggish, you will need products that will allow you to rebuild a healthy gut that cleanses your body. You may need medications for constipation until your gut comes back online. You may be able to complete cocaine detox and rehab in 30 days, but the length of your detox will ultimately determine your necessary time in rehab. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day. Call 855-334-6120 to get started on a healthier life path.
What If Things Don't Turn Out Well After Rehab?
