Before being synthesized as a recreational drug for sale on US street corners, cocaine was only used as coca leaves. Dating back to the ancient civilizations of South America, coca leaves have been considered a valuable commodity. Back then, though, the users merely chewed on the leaves for a mild hit. Now, however, the leaves are condensed in powder form as cocaine or the stronger version of crack cocaine.
The Holistic Approach to Cocaine Recovery
Holistic is simply a word given to explain that you consider all of the factors that relate to a person. In treating cocaine and crack addiction, it is vital because it goes beyond the physical symptoms of the drugs to determine the root causes of why addicts use them.
By also considering the mental and environmental factors impacting addicts, this makes holistic treatment for cocaine addiction highly effective. Addicts can be prepared for maintaining their sobriety because they will understand the triggers that could bring about a relapse.
Effects on the Body
At this juncture, it must be pointed it must be pointed out that substance abuse of cocaine and crack differ in intensity. Sold in a powder form, cocaine is often consumed through the nasal passages of users. This results in a quick hit because the powder quickly enters the bloodstream via the nasal passage.
But because the hit of using cocaine is so quick, users often consume more to try and replicate the feeling of euphoria. However, they soon develop a tolerance and have to take much more to achieve the same level of cocaine effects on the brain.
Regular misuse of cocaine places a considerable strain on the respiratory system, which can result in long-term damage to your heart, causing heart attacks. Additionally, cocaine can also lead to bleeding in the brain and strokes.
Crack is the crystal form of cocaine. Users have to heat crack cocaine and smoke it through a pipe in order to consumer the drug. The concentrate nature of crack means that the hit is much more intense and addictive than cocaine in its powder form. A high from crack cocaine might only last for 15 minutes, so addicts are soon thinking about how to afford their next hit.
All of the long-term risks of cocaine powder can emerge much earlier for crack users. Similarly, all of the cravings are magnified for crack. Following a hit of crack, users can soon become depressed and their mood will get worse until they use again. Visually, crack users suffer from malnutrition, tooth decay, and abscesses all over their body.
Inpatient Rehab for Cocaine Recovery
Enrolling as an inpatient with a rehab treatment facility is a sound decision for severe addicts, as it will remove them from their addictive triggers and put them in a place where they can receive support during the early weeks of their recovery.
Inpatient cocaine detoxification is the first step in the recovery process. Supplements and medication can be provided to ease the physical anguish that your body will express as it purges the last of the cocaine from your system. Crack users will generally experience a tougher detox process than people who use powder.
Holistic treatment in cocaine inpatient treatment will also ensure that counselors talk with addicts in supportive one-on-one sessions. By having the complete attention of a trained professional, addicts can gradually open up as they try to understand why they use cocaine in their lives.
Along the way, the counselor can work with fellow professionals from the rehab facility to tailor the most effective form of treatment program for the addict. Compared to 12-step programs, inpatient treatment develops individual solutions, and this is highly effective in ensuring that recovered addicts remain cocaine free.
Recovery from Cocaine Addiction
When conducting research into cocaine and crack, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) looked extensively at the addiction treatment methods of the US. Key among the research findings was the provision of individual and group therapy were highly effective in helping to ensure that addicts could remain free of drugs after undergoing detoxification.
The NHS also determined that treatment to prevent the misuse of cocaine powder was generally quite treatable. Cocaine powder proved to be much less severe compared to crack addiction, which is more complex to deal with.
Crucially, it was found that severe cocaine and crack addicts stand the greatest chance of recovering if they are treated with cognitive therapy to train them in avoiding drug use in the future. Without preparing severe addicts for the long-term, they are much more likely to relapse.
For all cocaine addicts, it was found that aftercare support has to be an integral part of the treatment program. With the optimum level of support provided to each addict, they will have a chance to maintain a fulfilling life with a steady routine.
