If someone is addicted to cocaine and stops using it, they’ll experience varied withdrawal symptoms – like agitation, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and more. These withdrawal symptoms can last for weeks. They are the primary reasons people have trouble quitting cocaine, so going to a drug detox program can be the best way to start on a recovery path.
Getting professional help for cocaine detox and addiction treatment can help people deal with cocaine cravings and debilitating withdrawal symptoms, both of which can result in a relapse.
If you or someone you care about is looking for a cocaine detox center in Florida with a substance abuse detox program, contact the detox center at United Recovery Project online or call 833.525.0166 for more information on the services we offer. We help our patients safely flush drugs from their system and prepare their bodies and minds for recovery.
What to Expect From Cocaine Detox
Because cocaine metabolizes quickly, it can leave the body in about eight hours, at which time some symptoms can arise. Physical symptoms will usually peak within the first 24 hours after someone begins to detox and continue for a few days to a few weeks. On the other hand, psychological withdrawal symptoms can last for a few weeks to a few months. What’s important to remember is that withdrawal symptoms, no matter how intense, are not permanent. Three major phases can characterize the cocaine withdrawal process:
- Phase I: This is when the crash – which comes almost immediately after stopping cocaine use – happens, typically lasts for one or a few days. People will feel depression and anxiety at this time and will find that they’re unable to feel pleasure. Irritability, lack of concentration, confusion, memory problems, fatigue, an increased need for sleep, increased appetite, and strong cocaine cravings are other symptoms that are common for this phase. Some dangerous symptoms to watch out for during this time are cardiac arrest, severe dehydration, and seizures.
- Phase II: Withdrawal can last up to 10 weeks. During this phase, people in detox can have increased cravings, irritability, periods of fatigue, extreme lethargy, and continuing issues with focus and concentration.
- Phase III: Often called the extinction phase, this period is when people still experience cocaine cravings, where individuals still experience cravings, especially when exposed to triggers. There could also be long-term issues with apathy, mood swings, irritability, and more psychological issues.
People often detox from cocaine at home because it does not take long. They can fully detox in a day or two, with some symptoms lingering for a few weeks. However, medical detox is much healthier and more comfortable.
Why Medical Detox Is Safer and Healthier
Medical detox is a supervised version of detox. At a cocaine detox program, a medical team supports and oversees the process. They can also provide medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for withdrawal symptoms and cocaine cravings. Nutritional support through IV therapy may also be provided.
Typically, medical detox happens in a hospital or inpatient rehab center and can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on a patient’s medical history and cocaine addiction severity. Physicians may also diagnose and treat chronic diseases during medical detox since their patients may not have had medical supervision for years due to their addiction.
Medical detox helps patients focus on recovery and go back to a healthy diet. After they’re done with detox programs, they may be encouraged to go through a cocaine abuse treatment program – which can be inpatient or outpatient.
What to Expect From a Cocaine Abuse Treatment Program
While cocaine detox can last from a few days to a few weeks, it’s not by any means the final step in recovering from cocaine addiction. Because cocaine use can lead to lasting changes in the brain, addiction can be difficult to treat, and relapses can happen easily.
Long-term treatment for cocaine addiction usually involves attending a cocaine abuse treatment program for at least a month up to a whole year, based on a patient’s individual needs. Addiction treatment involves many treatments and detox therapies, including individual and group counseling, contingency management, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and holistic practices.
Learn About United Recovery Project’s Cocaine Detox Program
Comprehensive treatment at a cocaine detox center that addresses the physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms is best for recovery. Contact United Recovery Project’s detox center online or call 833.525.0166 to find out more about our cocaine abuse treatment program in Florida.
