Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that burst onto the hippie party scene in the 1960s and again in the 1980s with the introduction of crack cocaine. Cocaine addiction can lead to radical changes in personality, irregular heartbeat, rapid weight loss and mood swings. Friends and family may try to help, but it is up to the addict to get help for their cocaine addiction.
The most effective way to help a person who is addicted to cocaine is in an in-patient rehabilitation treatment centre. Physical withdrawal from cocaine includes paranoia, insomnia, anxiety and nausea and usually last a few weeks or months, but the psychological addiction for cocaine may last for years. The addict cannot help but to crave cocaine, even once it is detoxed from their system.
Because cocaine is so addictive, it is important for the addict to be in an environment where they cannot use or purchase cocaine. Between 30%-40% of cocaine addicts go on to become addicted to another substance once they are off cocaine. This is why it is so important to go to a rehabilitation centre where the addict can get psychological help and counseling and avoid swapping one addiction for another.
Programs like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) are usually ineffective if used as the only method of treatment for a cocaine addiction. Because withdrawal is so severe, the addict may not be able to help themselves and succumb to the cravings. NA is a great support structure once the addict has had help to get clean in a rehabilitation centre. Because it may take years for the cravings to fully disappear, it is important that the addict has people he/she can turn to for help if they experience cravings.
Detoxing at home is another option, and may help some cocaine addicts. It will depend on a clean, healthy, drug-free environment and family and friends who are willing to help and be a solid support structure. The addict will need psychological help to fight the cravings and live a drug free life and this support can come from friends, family or a program like NA.