Cocaine Detox: How to Detox from Cocaine Effectively

Did you know that millions face the challenge of overcoming cocaine dependence?

In fact, in 2022, it was estimated that nearly 42 million Americans had used cocaine at some point in their lives.

The thing is, cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug that creates intense cravings and physiological dependence. The worst part is when you stop using cocaine, it leads to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that are likely to manifest in the form of agitation, fatigue, anxiety, paranoia, and nightmares. Do note that the symptoms are more psychological than physical, and their severity may vary based on age, the duration and amount of use, and any accompanying drug addictions.

Now, it may seem difficult to quit cocaine, but there is hope! You can start your journey to sobriety with medical-assisted cocaine detox, which must be coupled with a healthy lifestyle to attain the desired, lasting change.

In this guide, we will equip you with everything you need to know about the signs of chronic cocaine addiction, the process of detoxification, and the treatment options available. By the end, you’ll have a roadmap to make a positive change and overcome your addiction.

Symptoms of Cocaine Addiction

Image Credits: Image by DC Studio on Freepik

Cocaine addiction leads to psychological and mild physical symptoms.

Psychological symptoms of cocaine addiction include the following;

• Neglecting important obligations like work and family to use cocaine
• Frequently taking larger doses of cocaine to get a long-lasting high
• Rapid changes in mood swings. Victims of cocaine addiction are likely to exhibit irritability, agitation, and hostility towards those around them.
• Withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities and social circles, including friends and loved ones.
• Increased cravings for cocaine in everyday life.

Below are the common physical symptoms an individual is likely to exhibit when addicted to cocaine:

• Loss of sense of smell: Cocaine is most likely consumed through snorting through the nose. This is because it promises a longer-lasting high compared to other methods like smoking. Due to this, significant damage to the nasal septum occurs, leading to a loss of the ability to smell.
• Frequent nose infections: You are passing toxic chemicals through your nose. Frequent infections are likely to occur due to irritation of the septum.
• Difficulty breathing through the nose: As mentioned above, snorting causes significant damage to the nasal passage, capturing the blood vessels. When your nasal blood vessels are raptured, there is a high likelihood of experiencing difficulty in breathing.

What is Cocaine Detox?

Cocaine detox (aka cocaine detoxification) is the first step to eliminating cocaine from the system. It’s like hitting a reset button to break free from addiction and start afresh, however, the process is likely to be complex and challenging.

It’s important to understand the science of cocaine detox to make an informed recovery plan.

Cocaine, or what most people refer to as “coke,” is a fast-acting stimulant that has a direct effect on the central nervous system. You see, our brains have a mesolimbic dopamine system or perhaps a reward pathway that is stimulated by all types of reinforcing stimuli: sex, food, and drugs like cocaine.

Dopamine is usually released at normal levels whenever your brain expects a reward. However, when you use cocaine, it interferes with dopamine activity, increasing its levels. This is what leads to the euphoric sensation after consuming the drug.

With repeated cocaine use, your body gets used to the ‘feel-good chemicals.’ It creates a temporary euphoria-like state, and when you stop consuming the substance, your system finds it difficult to adjust to the change, kicking in cocaine withdrawal symptoms almost immediately. The symptoms can be mild or severe and are likely to last from a week to many months.

At this point, you need assistance from medical professionals to manage your cocaine addiction. There are various treatment options available, and your addiction specialist will create a custom recovery plan that is likely to include inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and counseling.

Cocaine Withdrawal Symptoms – What to Expect from Cocaine Detox

The main reason you should take a cocaine detox before enrolling in a treatment program is to ensure your body is in its natural state of chemical equilibrium. Skipping this crucial step may increase the chances of relapse.

Now, detoxification typically takes days or weeks. However, the duration may be shorter or longer depending on an individual’s level of usage and the length of the addiction.

During the detox process, you will most likely experience cocaine withdrawal symptoms which are both physical and psychological. While every person’s withdrawal symptoms may vary, this is what mostly happens to the body during the detox process.

• Anxiety, Depression, and irritability
• Poor concentration and slowing of thoughts and activities
• Frequent cocaine cravings
• Fatigue and a general sense of discomfort
• Sleep disorders
• Increased appetite
• Paranoia and nightmares
• Agitation and restless behavior

To manage these withdrawal symptoms and ensure you have a safe detox process, it’s always wise to opt for cocaine detox in a cocaine addiction recovery center. This guarantees you have a comfortable environment and professionals to watch over you.

What Happens to Your Body When You Detox from Cocaine?

Image Credits: Image by Freepik

Cocaine use has a direct impact on dopamine neurotransmission in the brain. When a person consumes the drug, it increases dopamine activity, leading to increased satisfaction and motivation.

During detox, you are no longer dependent on cocaine, meaning the excess dopamine in your body gradually decreases. A decrease in dopamine activity leads to withdrawal symptoms mentioned above.

Unfortunately, once you stop using cocaine, there is no evading the severe withdrawal symptoms that come with it. This is why detox at home isn’t advisable.

That said, allow us to explain the cocaine withdrawal timeline to help you understand the withdrawal symptoms.

• Within the first 3 hours of detox, individuals are likely to experience irritability, anxiety, exhaustion, and increased appetite.
• During the first 7 days, the symptoms intensify, leading to intense cocaine craving, difficulty in sleeping, and depressive mood swings.
• After 2-4 weeks, the real depression kicks in, and individuals start acting agitated and irritable.
• From week 5-10, the withdrawal symptoms begin to subsidize, and your body starts functioning properly without you being dependent on cocaine.

Most recovery addiction centers in California offer the best detox for cocaine. All you have to do is acknowledge your addiction, and you can withdraw from cocaine safely.

How Long Does Cocaine Stay in Your Blood?

After consuming cocaine, your body breaks it down into tiny substances called metabolites. These metabolites can be detected in different timelines using tests.

If you are doing a blood test, cocaine may be detected 2 days after taking it. The same applies to those using saliva. For anyone taking a urine test, cocaine can be detected up to 4 days after substance use.

There is more! To get the dopamine to its normal state takes 90 days. So, it’s not a surprise that cocaine can be detected in your hair 90 days after taking it.

Real-Life Stories from Patients Going Through Cocaine Detox

We admit that overcoming cocaine addiction is not a walk in the park. However, it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to achieve a sober-free life.

Below are two inspirational stories of individuals who have broken free from this bondage of addiction.

You Can Choose a Path Beyond Addiction

Here’s an inspiring post from a Reddit user:

Going to Rehab is the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. 26 days clean of cocaine, adderall, benzos and alcohol!!!

One month ago I was as close to death as I ever have been. I’m 22 years old and I was a skeleton of myself. I looked atrocious, I was suicidal, underweight, dabbling in every drug except heroin with a severe addiction to cocaine, adderall, benzos and alcohol. I would start my day with a beer and Baley’s Irish Cream to deal with the comedown from cocaine and adderall the night before. I had no sleep schedule and I was accomplishing absolutely nothing.

My rock bottom was when I kicked my Mom’s new car twice as hard as I coud out of anger, putting 400$ worth of damage onto it. From that scene I was left to walk home 5 miles in an unfamiliar neighborhood with no friends to pick me up because I had either lost them all for the friends I thought I had were actually scumbags and dealers. I decided then that I was done and the next morning I called a rehab to voluntarily check myself in for a 30 day program.

Rehab has been the best decision I’ve ever made. They feed us amazingly, detox you under medical supervision, make sure you’re comfortable in every way……. Read more here.

It’s Never Too Late For an Addiction-free Life

Another Reddit user shares – 10 years ago I was hopelessly addicted to heroin and crack cocaine and I had lost everything in my life. Today, I have my family back, my smile back, and now I have a home on 2 acres. We do recover!

Cocaine Detox – How to Get Cocaine Out of Your System

Cocaine withdrawal symptoms can be severe. However, several medical detox programs can help individuals get that substance out of their system overcoming the addiction.

Now, you can take detox at home or a treatment center. If you choose to detox alone, we recommend you enroll in an outpatient treatment program for emotional support. However, if you are a chronic cocaine user, it would be best if you take a medical detox at an addiction treatment center. Why, you may ask? Chronic users are more likely to have severe symptoms of withdrawal from cocaine.

A medical detox in a rehab facility starts with examining the amount of cocaine present in your system. This typically involves medical testing such as blood tests, urinalysis, toxicology screening, and even chest X-ray.

Depending on the severity, medical professionals may offer treatment options to help manage the symptoms. Cocaine is highly addictive; thus, the detox process may last up to 10 weeks.

Cocaine Detox Kits – Do They Work?

If you are not new to using cocaine, you might have used the cocaine detox kits to trick that drug test you must take every month at your workplace.

While they may seem effective and harmless, detox kits pose a lot of health risks and legal troubles to those who depend on them.

The products aren’t FDA-approved; thus, whenever you use these detox drinks for cocaine, you expose your body to dangerous substances. And let’s not forget the serious legal charges you may encounter for possessing an unapproved cocaine detox kit.

While you may manage to keep your skeleton in the closet, your body is at risk. Treating cocaine addiction is the best thing you can do. Luckily, there are many rehab treatment options to get you through the withdrawal process.

The best part? You can acquire a balanced recovery process with available outpatient treatment options.

Holistic Approaches to Aid the Cocaine Detox Process

Drug detox from any substance abuse involves more than getting the substance out of the body. To help lay a foundation for effective treatment, holistic approaches play a crucial role.

They mainly focus on healing the mind, body, and spirit, creating a balanced path to recovery. Below are some of the most effective techniques incorporated during the detox process to help treat cocaine withdrawal as well as attain a happy, sober life free of cocaine dependence.

• Meditation and Yoga: Whether going for an inpatient or outpatient treatment, most recovery centers in California provide a serene environment where individuals addicted to cocaine can practice meditation, giving room for self-reflection.
• Exercise: The main reason why people get intense cravings for cocaine during detox is because they are fixated on what the drug can do. Exercise acts as a distraction, allowing individuals to focus on other essential things.
• Therapy: Many people who use cocaine are not doing it for fun but to cope with underlying traumas. With evidence-based therapies incorporated into treatment plans, individuals can address these root causes, reducing the likelihood of relapse after detox.

Cocaine Detox Treatment – How Long Does it Take to Detox from Cocaine?

Now clearly understand the duration of cocaine in your, it is also essential to understand the two types of substance withdrawal that occur when you stop using it.

• Acute withdrawal: This is the type of withdrawal that occurs during the first few hours or days after you stop using cocaine. Acute withdrawal symptoms can go up to 2 weeks.
• Protracted withdrawal: Protracted withdrawals are all withdrawal symptoms that persist after the acute withdrawal. They may include physical and psychological symptoms.

Cocaine detox treatment involves a structured process to safely eliminate the drug from the body while managing withdrawal symptoms. This typically includes medical supervision, counseling, and supportive care to address both physical and psychological aspects of addiction.

Drug addiction treatment centers usually offer numerous treatment plans to accommodate the different needs of individuals dealing with the effects of cocaine. Inpatient and outpatient treatment are the most common treatment plans available.

Inpatient treatment requires individuals to be in a recovery center for a given period. During this time, you will have a professional treatment team helping you through the different stages of recovery, from managing the symptoms of cocaine detox to addressing the root causes of the addiction.

The Role of Cocaine Detox Centers

While it’s possible to detox from cocaine at home, the process can be dangerous, especially if severe physical symptoms occur. You see, the effects of stopping cocaine can lead to depressive episodes, which can trigger suicidal thoughts. If you don’t have anyone supervising, you may be at risk of imposing physical harm on yourself.

Cocaine detox centers have everything you need for a successful detox process. Unlike in a home, where there are lots of distractions, detox centers offer a serene environment where you can focus on your inner self and fight off the severe symptoms. Moreover, they provide regular medical supervision. This ensures that if the symptoms are unbearable, you can get the help you need at the right time.

Preventing Relapse After Successful Cocaine Detox

After taking weeks to detox from cocaine, the last thing you want is to go back to your old habits. Here is how you can prevent a fall down on cocaine again.

• Build a strong support network: Life after a long cocaine detox can feel lonely. Surrounding yourself with supportive friends and family can make your recovery journey seamless.
• Establish a routine: After rehab, you have the freedom to do what you wish. Having a structured daily schedule can help reduce idle time and minimize temptation.
• Identify triggers: Recognize and avoid people, places, and situations that trigger your cocaine cravings.
• Celebrate milestones: Don’t be too hard on yourself during recovery. Acknowledge those small achievements and reward yourself to stay motivated.

Learn About Harmony Junction Recovery Cocaine Detox Program

Are you now ready to make the bold move and get effective cocaine treatment? If yes, Harmony Junction Recovery is the right place to be. We understand that cocaine addiction may vary from one person to another, thus, our focus is on providing you with a personalized holistic approach that works to meet your specific needs. Apart from helping you overcome cocaine addiction, we also specialize in heroin, opioids, methamphetamine, and prescription painkillers.

We are located in South California, and our facilities offer top-rated amenities and cozy accommodations to ensure a comfortable detox experience. To top it off, we have access to incredible views of the coastline and its beautiful blue beaches, which provide a serene environment for quick recovery. Contact us today for more information!