Estimated reading time: 29 minute(s)
Derived from a natural plant alkaloid found in the coca plant, cocaine is a popular stimulant drug today. It is native to South America, where the locals have been growing it for thousands of years, mainly due to its stimulating effects. However, during the past few decades, people worldwide started isolating a psychoactive component, called cocaine hydrochloride, from the raw coca plants to synthesize a substance that we know as cocaine. The purified form of this proactive component quickly gained. Popularity became a permanent part of many elixirs and tonics, particularly during the 1900s.
Today, cocaine or coke remains a schedule II drug, indicating that it has a high potential for abuse. [1] The majority of people who abuse it for recreational purposes end up becoming dependent on it and require a professional cocaine detox process to get over this addiction. The need for cocaine detox has been increasing in the past few years, mainly due to the withdrawal symptoms that pop up when an addict tries to quit the drug cold turkey. Hence, it is essential to understand what a detox means, what to expect from it, and how much time it requires.
What is Cocaine Detox?
Detoxification means the breakdown and removal of a drug from the body to reduce its harmful effects. The process aims to help individuals fighting addiction learn how to function without having a drug in their system. Quitting cocaine or any other illegal medication suddenly without assistance can be particularly dangerous to the body. If attempted, the body is likely to experience unpleasant reactions, especially if it has already been accustomed to cocaine being in the system. These symptoms, mainly triggered by the brain’s response to the sudden chemical change, are known as withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms must be managed extremely carefully in a controlled environment for which detox can be the perfect solution.
A professional and safe cocaine detox program usually occurs in a specialist rehabilitation facility. The process is delivered with the help of an expert team with training in dealing with cocaine addiction. A comfortable environment is available to help the addicts work through the discomfort and pain of withdrawal. Detoxing from cocaine in a specialist center also ensures that all patients have immediate access to the necessary level of care to guide them through the process without any safety risks.
Benefits of a Professional Coke Detox Program
While stimulant withdrawal, such as that triggered by stopping cocaine, may not be as severe or dangerous as the ones with alcohol or opioids, the associated symptoms can be quite unpleasant and uncomfortable. In extreme cases, the withdrawal can also lead to mental health complications, such as depression and dysphoria. In such circumstances, having a safe and effective place to detox from coke where healthcare professionals are readily available to monitor and manage the symptoms can be essential for quick recovery and progress.
While some people can relapse during any phase of recovery, seeking treatment and help under constant monitoring of a healthcare team who can address any needs can help such people get back on track soon. Additionally, joining a coke rehab program also provides an addict with three critical components that benefit them while facilitating a safe and effective withdrawal experience. These components include the following:
Evaluation
A professional detoxification program typically begins with an evaluation and an in-depth assessment to assess a patient’s severity of addiction and current state of health while evaluating their social support. The purpose of these assessments is to help determine the best interventions to choose for a smooth recovery.
Stabilization
Withdrawal management as a part of a cocaine detox program helps patients achieve abstinence and medical stability.
Fostering a patient into treatment
The last component helps patients continue their treatment intending to address addiction’s social, behavioral, and social aspects.
Cocaine Detox Time: What and When to Expect
Detoxing from cocaine is a different experience for each patient. However, most patients more or less follow a set timeline regarding withdrawal symptoms. This timeline has been described below:
Initial 1 to 3 Hours
The symptoms of cocaine withdrawal can emerge as soon as a person stops its use. They may start feeling anxious, irritable, and exhausted with an increased need to eat.
Week 1
During the first week of cocaine detoxification, many people report developing extreme cravings for the drug. They may also feel exhausted yet find it difficult to sleep at night. Unpleasant, vivid dreams are pretty common in these people, along with depressive mood swings.
Weeks 2 to 4
Intense cravings, along with severe depressive episodes, continue during the second to fourth week. Many people report difficulties in concentrating or staying put. Agitation and irritability are also pretty standard at this point.
Week 5 to 10
As soon as a person enters the fifth week, their body and mind begin to heal, and withdrawal symptoms slowly start diminishing. Cocaine cravings also reduce but may crop up occasionally. Some people may also experience uneasiness and general anxiety during this period.
How to Detox from Cocaine: What Happens at a Professional Rehab
As a part of the detoxification process in cocaine addicts, a rehab team first assesses the severity of their addiction to determine the appropriate steps to take. These typically include:
Medical Assessment for Detox
The purpose of medical assessments before the beginning of a detox program is to help curate a tailored plan for each individual. Most world-class addiction treatment centers have made it an essential step for addiction recovery and involve detailed history, including past and current mental, physical, and addiction history.
Cocaine Withdrawal Symptom Management
Once the assessments are complete, and a treatment plan has been created, the detox process officially begins. For most people, it triggers withdrawal symptoms whose severity may vary, depending on different factors, like the severity of addiction, current physical health, etc. Some common withdrawal symptoms that occur during a cocaine detox program include the following:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Muscle pain
- Heart rate issues
- Headaches
- Exhaustion
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- paranoia
Detox Medication
Experts may prescribe certain medications depending on the initial assessment results and the severity of withdrawal symptoms. The purpose of these medications is to ease off at least some of the uncomfortable cocaine withdrawal effects. Depending on each client’s needs, these medicines may include sleep supplements, anti-sickness tablets, muscle relaxants, and more.
Round-The-Clock Detox Support
Throughout a detox program, detox specialists are always there to support clients whenever they need them. Many rehabs also have qualified nursing teams onsite 24 hours a day for the entire week to provide the care someone needs to cope well. This support continues on a need basis, along with constant monitoring, typically after every four hours, to ensure that everyone is safe.
Tips to Make Cocaine Detox Easier and More Effective
Keep the following tips in mind while undergoing a detox program to ensure high chances of success:
Follow the doctor’s orders
Try your best to avoid arguing or fighting with the care team, no matter how irritable or agitated you may feel during a detox. Instead, following the doctor’s advice will enable you to complete the process more quickly and effectively.
Know what to expect
If possible, research before you seek a detox program for cocaine addiction. Doing so will help you understand and know what to expect from the schedule ahead and mentally prepare you better at succeeding.
Seek treatment as early as possible
As soon as you recognize cocaine addiction as an issue that requires professional treatment, do not wait for long to begin. Early treatment has been associated with better recovery outcomes in the long run.
Don’t give up
Detoxing from cocaine can be a painful experience with a high risk of extremely dangerous relapses. However, do not give up or fall back if these relapses happen. Stick with the process and give it another chance to heal your life.
Always seek follow-up treatment
Once you have decided to seek help with cocaine detoxification, always consider what steps you wish to put in place to maintain sobriety while going forward. Almost every addiction expert unanimously agrees with the importance of joining a residential program following detoxification to sustain long-term recovery. These programs typically last 28 days and provide patients with space and time away from everyday life to focus more on recovery. These programs also equip them with strategies, tools, and skills to prevent relapses in the future.
FAQs
How long does it take to detox from cocaine?
The detox process for cocaine typically lasts for seven days but may vary depending on the quantity of cocaine you are using and the duration of addiction. Everyone has a different experience with the detox process according to their personal needs and goals. For the best experience and the most incredible shot at recovery, detox is usually combined with therapy to address the physical and psychological effects of the addiction. Hence, the treatment process may continue for weeks, even after detox.
How can I stay healthy and take care of myself while undergoing a cocaine detox program?
Detoxing from cocaine can be a painful and uncomfortable experience that may take a toll on a person’s mental and physical health. Hence, staying healthy and mitigating some of the worst symptoms associated with the process is imperative. Keep in mind that your body goes through a lot during detox. So follow the tips below to support it as much as possible:
- Eat healthy and well-balanced meals
- Consume a lot of electrolytes
- Make sure to maintain good hydration status
- Make use of relaxation techniques, such as warm showers, meditation, and deep breathing, to keep the stress levels to the minimum
- Ask for emotional help from your loved ones
What are the severe side effects of detoxing from cocaine?
While cocaine detox does not typically produce any severe side effects as other hard drugs like heroin, the negative symptoms associated with it are no less serious and require proper monitoring. The most severe side effect associated with cocaine detox and withdrawal is clinical depression which often leads to an increased risk of suicide. Studies also reveal that certain people develop cognitive impairment and verbal fluency during withdrawal while experiencing poor decision-making abilities and abrupt communication. [2]
References
[1] Richards, J. R., & Laurin, E. G. (2022). Cocaine. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
[2] Kelley, B. J., Yeager, K. R., Pepper, T. H., & Beversdorf, D. Q. (2005). Cognitive impairment in acute cocaine withdrawal. Cognitive and behavioral neurology: official journal of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology, 18(2), 108.
