No matter the circumstances that led you to use drugs like cocaine, your future health relies on your ability to shed the drugs and alter your response to cravings. The rehab process for cocaine is intense because the drug itself is so highly addictive. What happens in a cocaine rehabilitation facility?
Detox, rehab and healing over time. You may have been forced into rehab as an alternative to jail. You may have entered it as a way to salvage a bruised relationship or simply as a way to regain control over your life. No matter your impetus for entering cocaine rehab, the process of healing and care is consistent.
Detox, Then Rehab
Cocaine detox can take up to 10 days. During this time you will need support. While detoxing from cocaine is generally not as dangerous as detoxing from alcohol or opiates, the mental stress and pressure of cocaine detox presents a certain danger.
Cocaine is a powerful stimulant. Removing it from your body and brain can lead to dangerous reactions, particularly as it relates to your mood. As you detox from cocaine, you may experience a variety of symptoms. Your reactions can include
- anxiety and nervousness
- paranoia and physical agitation
- sleepiness and depression
You may become quite hungry and crave caffeinated drinks and sugary foods in an effort to elevate your energy level. Because depression is an illness that can be fatal, it is critical that you do not try to detox from cocaine on your own. Cocaine withdrawal may well make you very unpleasant to be around. In such a state, it’s easy to say and do things that are quite out of character for you. You may have a friend who believes they can help you detox, but you should avoid accepting such an offer.
The relationship could be damaged by the things that you say. You could also become violent and cause them harm. Detox from cocaine can take up to 10 days, depending on how long you used and what other drugs were in your system. While you may feel back to normal and even healthy at the end of your detox, it’s important that you remain in rehab to learn about how cocaine addiction and the cravings associated can return, quickly and intensely.
Additional healing will need to occur in your body. Long-term cocaine use can do a great deal of damage to your
- sinuses
- throat
- mucosal membranes
If you applied cocaine to your gums, your mouth may need special care. For those who have ingested or injected cocaine, rebuilding digestive health and wound care will likely be necessary. Healing your gut during any drug rehab needs special attention. Cocaine functions for some as an appetite suppressant. If your eating has slowed, you likely were not focused on a healthy diet.
You will need to slowly build your gut back up, including particular attention to building a healthy biome. As you drink plenty of water to support your kidneys and liver, you will need to add fiber back into your gut. Your care team may need to monitor your food intake and bodily output to make sure you’re not at risk of bowel obstruction or perforation.
While this tracking may seem intrusive or an invasion of your privacy, your physical health will continue to be limited until your gut is healthy enough to fully absorb the nutrients from the food that you eat. Your treatment will also include mental health counseling and education. You may have found that, in the early days of cocaine use, your depression and anxious thoughts were much easier to manage. As your brain adjusts to life without cocaine, those anxious thoughts may return. Better medications, formulated to treat just your anxiety, may be needed.
A thorough education on what addiction does to the brain will also be necessary. While humans have basic needs, such as food, shelter and weather appropriate clothing, the addicted brain moves the drug of choice into the ranking. If you emptied your bank account to buy cocaine, you will better understand just how crucial your access to the drug became. Ready to get started? Call us today at 855-334-6120 for a conversation that can change your life.
How Long Does Cocaine Rehabilitation Last?
