Cocaine addiction & rehab

If you are concerned that a family member, work colleague or friend has a problem with cocaine and needs cocaine help, there are some signs and symptoms that would indicate they are suffering from cocaine addiction.

Cocaine addiction is more than just a ‘problem’ with cocaine; it is a medically recognised chronic brain disorder, progressive in nature, that requires very specialised and bespoke treatment.

Cocaine addiction not only affects the sufferer physically and mentally but also affects other areas of their life such as their personal relationships, social life, work, school and finances.

A cocaine addict cannot be cured of their condition but they can be successfully treated. Treatment comes in the form of detoxification, rehabilitation and ongoing support. This way a cocaine addict can successfully stop using cocaine, learn invaluable tools to maintain recovery and undergo treatment to heal the issues that underpin their addiction.

Cocaine addiction treatment should combine medical care with therapy, using a holistic person-centred approach that treats all aspects of the person. This is what we deliver, here at our Delamere cocaine rehab facility in Cheshire.

The signs and symptoms of a cocaine addict include:

• Enlarged pupils. As a powerful stimulant, cocaine enlarges the pupils giving a ‘wide-eyed’ appearance
• Teeth grinding and jaw swinging
• Unusual hyperactivity and enthusiasm
• Agitation
• Unusual confidence and chattiness
• Increased libido and sexual activity. Cocaine often causes a person to engage in sexual activity that they normally wouldn’t when free from cocaine
• Unreliability
• Appearing frequently intoxicated
• Money going missing, selling items, borrowing money and spending never ending amounts of money on cocaine, whether they can afford to or not
• White powdered residue around their nostrils, sniffing and rubbing their nose persistently
• Problems with interpersonal relationships
• Staying up all night binging on cocaine
• Appearing panicky, anxious and paranoid during a comedown
• Reduced appetite and weight loss, change in appearance
• Change in circle of friends
• Continuing to use cocaine despite negative or harmful consequences

If you suspect that someone you know is a cocaine addict, it is important to try and broach the subject with them. Left untreated cocaine addiction often kills.

If you would like advice on how to talk to a cocaine addict, please call our helpline and speak with one of our addiction treatment experts. Or, better still, encourage the person you are concerned about to call us directly.

Long-term side effects of cocaine abuse

Abusing cocaine for prolonged periods of time does not come without consequences. Cocaine is an extremely toxic Class A substance.

Not only does cocaine impact on the brain but long term use can also cause side effects to the rest of the body. The effects of long-term cocaine abuse can be irreversible and life threatening so it is important to get the right help if you have a problem.

Long term side effects of cocaine abuse include:

• Addiction
• Increased risk of heart damage
• Increased risk of heart attack
• Increased risk of Myocarditis
• Increased risk of Aortic rupture
• A severe decline in cardiac functions
• Severe depression This occurs due to changes in the brains pleasure reward system through repeated use of cocaine
• Increased anxiety
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations
• Sensitization. Sensitization is where less cocaine is needed to produce anxiety, convulsions and other toxic effects
• Toxin build up in the liver and brain reducing efficiency
• Seizures
• Tolerance
• Increased risk of overdose. Long term cocaine users are more prone to overdose due to sensitisation, tolerance and a build up of toxins in the body
• Increased risk of psychosis 2

In addition to the above risks, snorting cocaine can cause permanent damage to the nasal septum and sinuses. Injecting cocaine comes with a whole host of risks related to injecting including contracting HIV and hepatitis. Smoking crack cocaine can permanently damage the lungs and cause a worsening of asthma. 2

The longer a person abuses cocaine the more at risk they become to cocaines toxic side effects. Cocaine will not only affect the person using it in a variety of negative ways ( including personal relationships, social life, work and finances) but will also affect those that love and care for them. This is why it is important if you have a problem with cocaine that you seek help sooner rather than later.

If you are worried about your cocaine use in any way please do call and have a chat with us at Delamere. We know how dangerous cocaine addiction and abuse can be, we also know how to successfully overcome it.

It is an established fact that the most effective way to treat cocaine addiction is through intensive residential treatment (conventionally known as detox and rehab). Over the years, our team have helped hundreds of clients recover from cocaine addiction. Unlike conventional rehab programmes, we don’t believe in prescriptive or rules-based treatment planning. At Delamere we recognise that whist the symptoms of cocaine addiction are similar, the reasons why people struggle are unique. With this in mind you can expect a varied and immersive process that helps you uncover the reasons why cocaine became a problem in the first place as well as a set of unique and practical tools to help future proof your recovery. You can read more about our addiction treatments.

If you have tried and failed to stop using cocaine, you will have hopefully conceded that professional cocaine help is now the way forward. You’ll want to know who we are and how our treatment works, that’s what these pages are about.

Delamere is a private clinic that specialises in treating addiction on a residential basis. It is our belief and experience that with the right treatment and support anyone can permanently break the cycle of cocaine addiction. Our advanced cocaine rehab programmes are supported by a full range of after care services, including family support, counselling and relapse prevention.
We place a tremendous emphasis on holistic care, treating the whole person rather than just the ‘symptom’. As well as traditional one-to-one and group therapy we offer innovative treatments such as mood management and trauma therapy which help to future-proof your recovery. Our cocaine treatment programmes tend to last 4 – 6 weeks and you can read more about our approach and care ethos here.

References

1. The neurobiology of cocaine addiction NCBI Hyman and Malenka, 2001; Kalivas and McFarland, 2003; Koob, Sanna, and Bloom, 1998; Nestler, 2001
2. Riezzo I, Fiore C, De Carlo D, et al. Side effects of cocaine abuse: multiorgan toxicity and pathological consequences. Curr Med Chem. 2012;19(33):5624-5646.